A MAN was killed and a woman critically injured when their car lost control and hit a tree at a notorious accident blackspot near the Billet roundabout.

The collision happened during the rush hour at 5.30pm on Tuesday and led to the road being closed for three-and-a-half hours.

Police are not yet certain what caused the car to lose control as it travelled on the North Circular between Hall Lane and the Billet roundabout, Chingford. Investigating officers are appealing for witnesses.

The stretch of road has a bad reputation, seeing more than the national average number of collisions, and has claimed numerous lives.

In October two women were killed when their car spun out of control on the slip road coming off the Billet.

During the same month, a bus crashed into a roadside barrier, which prevented it from careering into oncoming traffic.

Statistics show that there were 106 accidents in the vicinity of the Billet round- about between 1994 and 1998.

For some time, the council has been looking at ways of improving traffic flow in this area and, from Christmas, will begin installing traffic lights at the roundabout.

In Tuesday's incident, the car involved, an N-reg Lexus 400, was being driven by the man who later died. He and a female passenger were taken to Whipps Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8pm. The passenger is said to be in a critical but stable condition.

The crash is being investigated by the collision investigation unit and the north east traffic division.

Clive Treacher, who works for the police's traffic management unit, was confident there would be witnesses who could shed light on what happened.

He said: "Right now we have no idea why this car spun out of control. Our investigators will be looking at the road and the vehicle.

"But we're keen to hear from people who witnessed the collision. It was a very busy time of day so there must have been plenty of other drivers who saw what happened."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call 8345 4984.