More mayhem on death crash road

A 17-YEAR-old miraculously escaped with his life on Tuesday, when his car plunged off a dual carriageway before smashing into flats below.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Dec 2004, 08:12 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:06 BST

The driver from Hastings, walked away from the horrific crash on King Offa Way with suspected fractures to his collar bone and shoulder. Despite extensive damage to the property, no one in the Gilbert House flats was injured.

The yellow MG caught fire after ploughing into the building, but paramedics on the scene suppressed the blaze until fire crews from Bexhill arrived.

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Residents have labelled the accident a sickening example of history repeating itself - in February 2003 Eastbourne man, Stuart Doe, died when his Vauxhall left the same westbound carriageway and trapped a couple inside their flat.

The crash has sparked calls for safety cameras to be installed along the bypass, after the Highways Agency hinted such measures would be put into place in the Autumn.

Last year The Observer, along with MP Gregory Barker and Rother Leader Graham Gubby, successfully campaigned for safety barriers to be installed along the notorious stretch of road.

However, the barriers could not stop the car from flying through the air and careering into Gilbert House.

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One of the busiest roads in Bexhill, the King Offa Way stretch of the A259 has seen three deaths in the last three years.

Only in April a motorcyclist was killed when his bike struck a lamppost.

Local people are now appealing for action before another major accident.

Regular road user Averina Hills said: "They should have put cameras up months ago, they are essential because there are not enough police checks."

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A resident of Gilbert House who did not wish to be named, said: "I was just coming home from lunch and I cannot believe it. I knew about the previous accidents when I bought the place - I thought it would be okay.

"What we need is a ****** speed camera!"

Police say it is too early to tell if speed was a factor in the latest incident.

The road was closed for approximately four hours during the afternoon as crash investigators examined the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Bexhill Road Policing Unit on 0845 60 70 999.

Related topics:ResidentsHastingsBexhill