A pre-inquest is being held after a woman died after being caught up in a police chase that ended in a three-way car crash.

Jessica Michael-Ladkin, a beauty therapist from Enfield, was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision at 10.15pm on Parklands, Waltham Abbey, on Thursday, March 28, 2019.

The mother of two was driving a Vauxhall Corsa when officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit attempted to stop the vehicle on the M25 at 9.55pm.

This resulted in a collision with two other vehicles - a Vauxhall Mokka and a Land Rover Range Rover.

A post-mortem concluded in April 2019 that Mrs Michael-Ladkin’s provisional cause of death was a "traumatic spinal injury".

Two adults and three children in the Mokka, all from the Waltham Abbey area, were taken to hospital.

A front seat passenger, a 43-year-old man, and three children aged one, eight and 14, suffered minor injuries.

A 32-year-old woman was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries.

The pre-inquest was scheduled to begin at 2pm today at Chelmsford Coroner’s Service.

What is a pre-inquest?

This is a hearing held before the coroner where those involved and the coroner come together to plan for the final inquest.

A pre-inquest is held in more complex investigations where there is a need for issues to be aired prior to the inquest and which cannot easily be dealt with via email.

A conclusion is often made as to whether the final inquest will be heard with a jury present and whether all appropriate documents and records have been disclosed to the coroner.

An inquest into Mrs Michael-Laskin’s death was originally scheduled for October 2018 but was adjourned.

The date for the final inquest is yet to be confirmed.