More than 160 accidents as gritters get caught out

Sussex Police reported a final total of 166 accidents in the sub-zero temperatures and black ice that made conditions treacherous at times.

The initial toll was more than 40 crashes between midnight and 7.45am, mainly in rural areas with more than 30 involving single vehicles sliding off the road on black ice, police said.

The figure rose to 166 crashes across the county by the end of the day with more than half occurring up to the morning rush hour.

A West Sussex County Council spokesman said: “The gritters did not go out on Sunday, January 27. The forecast predicted milder weather than the cold temperature experienced that evening.”

Included was the head-on collision between two 4x4s just after 8.30am on Haywards Heath Road between Balcombe and Borde Hill.

Another road, the B2036 going north out of Balcombe towards Crawley, was closed just before 6am after a car went into a ditch and after reports of sheet ice. It reopened at 10.30am after being gritted,

A Middy reader also rang to warn of flood water turning to ice on the road near the scene of Sunday’s fatal crash between Burgess Hill and Ansty.

Both police and fire and rescue services issued warnings to drivers to take care and allow extra time for their journeys.

See more in this week’s Mid Sussex Times tomorrow (Thursday)

• Ardingly Parish Council is asking residents to give their views in a survey on village traffic problems. The survey follows and Open Forum and is online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Ardingly_traffic until February 15. Paper copies at Hapstead Hall on Tuesdays between 10am and 12pm.