Crash driver praises good Samaritans

Mahfuz Miah, of Hastings Road, Battle, was driving down the A2100 towards the town at 1am on Saturday when the barricade, which had been left across the width of the road, came into view.

Mahfuz said: "The road there is almost canopied by the roadside trees so along with the time of night, the barricade was only visible to me once it was only 20m or so away.

"Needless to say I swerved to avoid it and ended up veering right, hitting the kerb and then fence posts before coming to a stop and stuck on the grass verge just outside the gypsum works."

Two people who witnessed the accident stopped and rushed to the striken driver's aid.

Mahfuz said: "The couple who were in the car behind managed to break in time to avoid any further injury or incident.

"It was this couple I am grateful to, Kelly Miller and Luke Mackerness of Battle, who ensured that no-one else was put at risk by removing the barricades, ensured immediate oncoming traffic were made aware of the incident and who then stayed with me for the next hour to help me.

"Not many people would have been willing to drive back to their homes to pick up a tow rope and another car to help another in need.

"It's reassuring to know that good samaritans like Kelly and Luke are still around in a time when too many people limit their involvement to rubbernecking at these road accidents."

Mahfuz added: "I was very disappointed that the police when called said that because no-one was injured and that the barricade had been removed, there was no reason for them to attend.

"Never mind that there were obviously people out that night who didn't care for the safety of motorists on a very busy road. Why doesn't such behaviour warrant investigation?

"It was left to me to leave my details the next morning in the police station so that at least the owners of the damaged fence posts could know who to contact.

"I am just grateful that the nearby telegraph post or ditch behind the fence didn't leave me in a worse state than I am now.

"It's just a shame that insurance companies are not so eager to help when there are no other parties to claim against and so I shall be treated as at fault since vandals were involved."

Sergeant Dan Russell, of Battle police, said: "Police did not attend the accident as there were no injuries and the road was not blocked.

"I am very grateful for the members of public who assisted in removing the barriers from the road and helping out the motorist.

"There had been no reports prior to the accident of any barriers being tampered with and placed dangerously in the road.

"If there had been, police would have attended and removed the barriers and searched for those who tampered with them."