Officers investigating yesterday’s fatal crash near Hitchin have now appealed for witnesses, as they work to trace four people who left the scene before police arrived.

The crash happened just before 1.15pm on the B655 Hitchin Road, near Hexton Manor. Police said a black Audi RS Quattro was travelling east, towards Hitchin, and a silver Kia Picanto was travelling west when “for reasons unknown at this stage, both vehicles were in collision”.

“The occupants of the Audi, believed to be four men, were not at the scene on police arrival and enquiries are ongoing in order to trace them,” a Herts police spokeswoman said.

“They are all described as Asian and in their late teens or early 20s.”

The Kia driver, a man in his 60s, was serious injured and was cut from his car by firefighters before being taken to hospital – where he tragically died last night.

Police said his family had been informed. The road was closed in both directions between Hexton and Pegsdon until 9.45pm while emergency crews including the Beds, Cambs and Herts Forensic Collision Investigation Unit worked at the scene.

Insp Jamie Langwith, from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing Unit, said today: “Our thoughts are very much with the victim’s family, who are currently being supported by family liaison officers.

“Our investigation will now focus on identifying and locating those who were travelling in the Audi.

“We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who was travelling along the Hitchin Road around the time of the collision and has a dash cam fitted to their vehicle.

“You may have captured footage of what happened prior to or after the collision and this would be extremely useful to our investigation.

“We have spoken to a number of people in connection with this incident but if you witnessed what happened, have dash cam footage you would like to share or any further information – any information at all, however insignificant you think it is, could prove vital to our investigation.”

Anyone with information should email FCIUsouth@herts.pnn.police.uk, report online at herts.police.uk/Report or call 101, quoting ISR 355 of May 30.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information cannot be traced or recorded and you will never need to go to court.