A Range Rover travelling towards Ongar was in a head-on collision with a caravan, towed by a white tipper van.
The Range Rover then collided with a Vauxhall Combo van, travelling behind the caravan, on Monday night. The Combo driver, 34, from Southend, was killed.
The tipper van driver then drove off, leaving the caravan behind. An Ongar man, 35, has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving.
The tipper van, which left the scene of the accident, is believed to be a white Ford Transit type vehicle, police said.
Road remains closed
It is described as having orange beacons on the roof and a distinctive raised cage on the load carrying area behind the cab.
It is believed it was driven into Rookery Road towards Nine Ashes.
The A414 remains closed between Rookery Road, Norton Heath, and King Street, High Ongar, as police investigate the crash scene.
Essex Police have appealed to anyone with information about the tipper, or who witnessed the collision, which took place between Chelmsford and Ongar, at about 1920 GMT, to contact them.
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