A woman had to be cut free from the wreckage of a two-car crash outside a school this afternoon in a road where residents have called for a speed crackdown.
The woman in her 50s was rescued from the car after the crash at the corner of Westbourne Gardens and New Church Road shortly after 11am this morning.
She was taken to hospital with neck and leg pain. A man in his 20s with back and chest pain was also taken to the Royal Sussex by paramedics.
Paul Nelson, who saw the aftermath of the crash, said: “fortunately no children were hurt, but traffic lights are needed at this junction. Hundreds of people cross here everyday.”
On Tuesday, Cllr Denise Cobb presented a petition signed by 54 people to Brighton and Hove City council’s environment and transport committee.
It said: ““We the undersigned ask Brighton & Hove City Council, to address the alarming and even terrifying speed at which many drivers go along Westbourne Gardens.
“This is not just being slightly faster than the stipulated 20mph. Some drivers, weirdly, regard a wide road as a licence to go faster than they would along narrower streets.
“Indeed, one driver was recently seen overtaking at some 50mph – and that was while speaking on a cell phone, just as somebody was about to cross the road.
“Lives are at risk from this surreal craving by drivers to reach one junction from another a few seconds quicker. Please save Hove residents from this full-throttle madness before there is more work for the undertaker”
A police spokeswoman said: “Emergency services were called at 11.10am on Thursday (December 1) to a collision between two cars at the junction of Westbourne Gardens and New Church Road in Hove.
“One woman was trapped and had to be released by East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. The road was partially blocked but no-one was seriously hurt. The road was clear at 1.30pm.”
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service attended a road traffic collision in Hove this morning (1 December).
“Two fire appliances from Hove and Brighton were mobilised to a two-vehicle collision in Westbourne Gardens, in Hove, at 11.11am.
“Firefighters cut one trapped person free from the wreckage, using hydraulic cutting equipment, who was then left in the care of paramedics.”
An ambulance spokesman said:” SECAmb was called at approximately 11.10am today to reports of an RTC. Ambulance crews in two ambulances and a car attended the scene.
“A man in his 20s with back and chest pain and a woman in her 50s with neck and leg pain were treated at the scene before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital.”
One of the automobiles had crashed through the metal railings of the pedestrian island. Mercifully, nobody was on it.
On Tuesday, when the Petition reached the Environment Committee, cllr Gill Mitchell replied that a survey had been made of… Rutland Gardens. A dismaying response after taking the hours to do a Petition. It was no idle concoction but a widely-felt reaction to a situation which has led to that grim photograph.
There already are traffic lights t that junction, just 10yards from where the crash happened. You can’t legislate against people not paying attention.
Those pedestrian lights – they are not traffic lights – are activated, intermittently, by pedestrians. The lights do not have an effect upon automobiles belting north/south across New Church Road, or turning fast into/from Westbourne Gardens/Villas.
The residents’ Petition said that horror is likely, but, alas, it was dismissed on Tueday.
Let us hope that a fresh look is now given.
After all, apart from the grief, which is paramount, a lost life costs the local economy £1.8 million. Think about it before you sneerbox.
I live in this road, and there have been many a pet death from speeding, and given that so many children live here I cannot believe more accidents have not happened. I do not think traffic lights at the bottom of the road are what is needed as the cars constantly speed along Westbourne Gardens all hours of the day and night! Speed bumps are what is needed!!! They are in virtually every road around this area accept this one?? Adding the 20mph sign on the road has done nothing what so ever to help the situation.
We saw the accident taking place and what we saw was really horrifying. Seeing that the young man who was driving was actually driving with caution and he was doing the speed limit. The only reason we can say that because we saw what happened. The other car was at a distance and if the other car was doing the speed limit which is 30 then this accident would not have taken place. The young man had nearly crossed over when the other car comes and crashes . We hope the the young man and the rest of the passengers are ok. Our prayers and thoughts of quick recovery for them. Drivers need to be aware of there speed. As we can see from this incident. There should be traffic lights at this crossing. If there would have been a child crossing and if this car had hit the child instead of the young mans car it would have been devastating for that family and the community. It is time we need to take action.
Sarah the young man and the passengers are recovering. A witness statement would be really appreciated. Please get in contact with me
j.9two@hotmail.co.uk