Pensioner Arrested after Level Crossing Crash

AN ELDERLY motorist has been arrested after he ploughed in to the level crossing barriers at Pevensey Bay and then drove off.

The incident happened at around 8.50am on Saturday morning (April 3) at the Wallsend Road level crossing.

The 89-year-old Bexhill man, driving a Nissan Micra, went through the closed level crossing barrier, knocked two of them off and then carried on driving.

There were no passengers in his car and no other trains or vehicles were involved. The elderly man was uninjured.

Police were called to the scene and the Micra was stopped by police nearby shortly after the incident.

He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop, and driving with defective eyesight. He was subsequently bailed without charge until April 30, pending further police enquiries. The road was closed while repairs were carried out and the incident also caused disruption on the trains.

A Southern spokesperson said rail passengers travelling between Eastbourne and Hastings faced delays of up to 15 minutes because the trains were having to move more slowly through the Pevensey Bay level crossing.

The road and the level crossing was reopened fully by 11.30am and the trains were running on time.

story source : Rye and Battle Today