Rider seriously injured as bike is sliced in two

The rider, from Seaford, was taken by ambulance to the Conquest Hospital at Hastings with serious injuries.

His condition was still being described as serious yesterday.

The A259 trunk road (pictured) was closed by police who immediately launched a crash investigation under the codename Operation Ballymore.

Police said Sunday's 12.40pm accident happened when the Suzuki SV660 clipped the kerb on the sweeping right hand curve on the eastbound lane of the dual carriageway between King Offa's Way's two footbridges.

The machine flew into roadside trees. The crash left the rear half of the motorcycle at the point of impact.

The front wheel, front forks and radiator bounced back out into the road and struck a passing Peugeot 206.

The 24-year-old female driver, from Hastings, was unhurt.

Watched by other bikers, paramedics worked to stabilise the condition of the badly injured rider at the scene before taking him to hospital.

Firefighters who attended to wash down the road and clear it of debris withdrew as police launched their investigation and returned later.

Sergeant Brian McCartney of the Road Policing Unit at Polegate is appealing for witnesses to contact him on 0845 6070999.

THE notorious King Offa Way stretch of road has a history of serious accidents.

In the last four years there have been six major traffic smashes, with five people either killed or seriously injured. There has also been a string of minor accidents

Most of them occurred on the westbound stretch of the bypass unlike Sunday's accident when the motorcyclist was heading towards Hastings.

In December 2002 Margaret Austin died when her Nissan Micra was in collision with a Mercedes Vito van.

Just over a year later, a Bexhill couple were lucky survive when a car was catapulted in to the air and in to their flat below the carriageway.

The driver, Stuart Doe of Eastbourne, died from his injuries.

An inquest later heard the car may have been travelling at almost 90 miles per hour.

Then in April 2004, a 23 year -old-man from Tunbridge Wells died after his motorcycle crashed in to a lamp post.

It was said at the inquest the bike may have reached speeds of 80 to 100 miles per hour just before the accident.

The incidents sparked off renewed calls for safety measures on the road and an Observer campaign was launched - backed by town MP Gregory Barker and Rother leader Graham Gubby.

The Highways Agency installed crash barriers in July 2004 to protect the homes of residents below the 400 metre long stretch of the road where most of the accidents happened.

But the barriers did not prevent a spectacular crash in December 2004 when an MG sports car left the dual carriageway and ploughed in to the neighbouring homes.

Miraculously, no one was hurt.

In April 2005 a speed camera was finally installed on the westbound carriageway.