Car slid out of control

A DRIVER was killed when a 26-year-old Seaford man s car spun out of control on the A259 at Bishopstone, an inquest heard.

Richard Hambling, 33, of Henley Road, Brighton, died from multiple injuries following a head-on collision on July 21.

His car was so seriously damaged firefighters had to cut away its roof and door to remove him. He was airlifted to the Eastbourne District General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The accident blocked the road between Newhaven and Seaford for nearly five hours.

An inquest at Eastbourne on Tuesday heard how a car driven by David Maskell, of Kingston Way, Seaford, careered across the road into Mr Hambling s path.

Mr Maskell was driving from Seaford to work in Lewes when he lost control of his Fiat Tempra.

He said: 'I remember going into the right hand bend, then the car just went. It just seemed to slide.

Veered

He added: 'I do not recall going over the other side of the road. I just remember a bang and spin. It just happened so quickly. I could not tell 100 per cent what happened.

Steven Catterson, of Hythe Crescent, Seaford, was driving behind Mr Hambling s Renault 18, travelling towards Seaford, when the accident happened.

He told the inquest how Mr Maskell s car veered across the road and crashed, throwing paint and tools from its rear and spilling into the road.

'I saw it coming across the carriageway sideways and hit the other car head on, said Mr Catterson.

He added: 'I managed to brake and both cars careered into the front of my car. My air bag inflated and paint and debris obliterated my windscreen.

Mr Catterson was uninjured.

Police crash investigator PC Christopher Burt found no puddles or surface water on the road which could have caused Mr Maskell to lose control and crash

He said an accident of this type could be caused by excessive speed or braking, or harsh acceleration or steering.

Coroner Alan Craze deferred his verdict until a police investigation into the crash had been considered by the Crown Prosecution Service.