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Fatal crash closes A23

4:50pm Wednesday 4th June 2008

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By Andy Chiles »

The southbound carriageway of the A23 has been closed following a fatal accident.

A cyclist was killed after a collision with a Ford Mondeo close to the Hickstead junction, near Burgess Hill.

Eye-witnesses said more than a dozen police vehicles and four fire appliances were attending the collision at 4.30pm.

Vehicles were being directed off the road and onto the A272 causing major traffic jams as the rush hour started.

The accident happened at 3.45pm.

The Highways Agency said delays of 40 minutes should be expected. The road was not due to return to normal use until after 10pm.

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Your Say YourArgus

sara, btn says...
6:02pm Wed 4 Jun 08

my husband caught up in it been there an hour already

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melfromhove, hove says...
6:16pm Wed 4 Jun 08

sara wrote:
my husband caught up in it been there an hour already
And the cyclist will be dead forever. How cold hearted we have become, that we measure tragedies only by the inconvenience they cause us.

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Talan, Brighton says...
6:31pm Wed 4 Jun 08

I've ridden the A23 on a handful of occasions and drive it now, daily to and from work. I can confirm that whilst cyclists have every right to be there, it is essentially a very risky endeavour. The worst points are where you are going past the slip road exits and entries. You are very, very exposed. For those cyclists not aware, which will be many, there is a cycle route all the way from Pease Pottage to Brighton avoiding the A23 until Patcham where the speed limit drops to 40mph and motorists become more cautious. It is not perfect however. It uses a mixture of less major and minor roads, and cycle paths. The cycle paths often hug the A23 and are unprotected should a vehicle leave the road. In some points they tend also to collect debris presumably from car crashes and shunts.

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CycleCommuter, Hassocks says...
7:03pm Wed 4 Jun 08

Commuting by cycle from Hassocks to Brighton I endorse Talan's comment about the exposure. Please, please use the cycle paths they do afford more protection than the A23 itself.
WSCC please try and clear them up a bit more often, the same old debris seems to be there for weeks.

R.I.P Unknown Cyclist

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gary, worthing says...
7:29pm Wed 4 Jun 08

This is really sad for the cyclists family,im always very wary of cyclists on any road.Alot of car drivers think cyclists are an inconvenience,im not a cyclist but i think that im considerate towards them
How did sussex police muster up 12 cars,that seems alot of cars to send

RIP mr cyclist

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Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
8:13pm Wed 4 Jun 08

A terrible story. All sympathy for the cyclist's family and friends.

Let us hope that this at least means cyclists are given more consideration, but I fear that drivers, cocooned in their vehicles, will simply carry on as usual.

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Anonymous, BHILL says...
8:19pm Wed 4 Jun 08

Triangle leisure centre was used as a refuge area for quite a number of people under shock.

1 crash and 15 ish people in shock? there must of been more to this story.

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anothereye, London says...
8:25pm Wed 4 Jun 08

She was a fine spirit; just short of her 20th birthday; a dear friend and flat-mate to me. We don't know the details of how this happened but we need patience. She was with a group of cyclists so it is hard to understand haw she could not have been visible.
M.V. 1988-2008 R.I.P.

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road user, hove says...
9:24pm Wed 4 Jun 08

i really think they should stop cyclists from using this road not becasue they 'get in the way' rather more for their own protection and to ensure a tragic incident like this cannot happen again irrespective of the circumstances. I'm not making any assumptions, casting any ridiculous accusations or appointing blame in this case i would like to make that clear. On a road where vehicles do 70 mph the consequences of a collision with a cyclist have been laid bare in the worst possible way. The reality is not everyone pays as much attention as they perhaps they should do on their way home especially when they do exactly the same journey every day. People do have lapses of concentration.This often causes accidents .Between two cars this often ends up in some material damage to the cars,lots of delays on the road although this may be annoying for other motorists at least fatalities are low when compared to the number of incidents that happen. when contact between a vehicle doing 70mph there is only going to be one outcome.

I feel sorry for all concerned and involved here. deepest sympathies.

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Ruthtrudi, Kemtown says...
10:05pm Wed 4 Jun 08

Anonymous wrote:
Triangle leisure centre was used as a refuge area for quite a number of people under shock. 1 crash and 15 ish people in shock? there must of been more to this story.
'Anonymous', have you ever seen a dead person - apart from on the 'telly? I have - my neighbour fell off the roof after getting locked out - he was dead on my patio. Believe me, a shock like that is something you live with forever.I saw that sight everytime I closed my eyes for the 1st 6 months after. The people at the Triangle refuge may not have been able to carry on driving safely themselves after suffering shock at the aftermath of a fatality.

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Yaddab, Patcham says...
11:43pm Wed 4 Jun 08

To the Fine Spirit, I wish you a safe path to what ever journey meets you next.

I offer my empathy to your friends and family.

A sad loss for the friends you had yet to meet, and the life taken from you too soon.




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Jon Knowles, London says...
12:11am Thu 5 Jun 08

This will go very hard with M.V.'s family. Their youngest daughter studying in London, away from the family home in France, they were never entirely happy with the arrangement and feared for her well-being. She was very close to her older brother and sister and this will devastate them too. Nineteen years is a pitifully small number to account for a life. There are no words for this.

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fellow cyclist, says...
12:40am Thu 5 Jun 08

anothereye wrote:
She was a fine spirit; just short of her 20th birthday; a dear friend and flat-mate to me. We don't know the details of how this happened but we need patience. She was with a group of cyclists so it is hard to understand haw she could not have been visible.
M.V. 1988-2008 R.I.P.
Poor kid was only 19!? thats awfully sad.

The roads are deadly now,especially for cyclists,in these times of selfish carelessness.

Rest in Peace M.V

:-(

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FRANCESCA, TEXAS says...
1:05am Thu 5 Jun 08

DON'T THINK 'EMPATHY' IS QUITE THE RIGHT WORDS UNDER THESE TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!

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BHF, Bolney says...
7:13am Thu 5 Jun 08

There is cycle path running parrall with the A23. If you insist on riding on the three lane carrige way, please use the off slip at hickstead, and re-join the A23 via the on slip from the roundabout.

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JJ, Worthing says...
8:10am Thu 5 Jun 08

Another tragic accident on a notorious road,
sympathies to the family.

Cyclists have every right to be on the A23 but is it
actually sensible or safe for them to use??, I really doubt it.

This road is barely out of the news concerning accidents and while many say its the driversusers, if thats the case then
something must be attracting them all to this particular
road above any others.

I thought there were cycle paths if so why
werer they not used or are they unsuitable?

Finally melfromhove shut up !! someone was held up then dont
get on your high emotional horse and play assumption monkey
that disrespect was intended to the victim - totally unneccessary



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Gino, Portslade says...
9:29am Thu 5 Jun 08

How shocking - and such a terrible tragedy, however it happened. My condolences to her friends and family.

I have to agree, though, that although cyclings have a perfect right to use major roads and in a perfect world would be safe doing so, the reverse is true. I drive the A23 every day in my car and sometimes I hold my breath at how close to cyclists some cars get. I wouldn't care to risk it myself.

I think there will be far fewer cars as the oil crisis really begins to bite - and those that are left will be driving more slowly.

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Tess, says...
10:54am Thu 5 Jun 08

Deepest sympathies to the girl's family and friends from Smash EDO. This is devestating.

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JJ, Worthing says...
12:41pm Thu 5 Jun 08

Mike S, in answer to your questions..

No, no and no

Now go away unless you have something to post about this tragedy that doesnt just involve whinging about others..

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Gerry, London says...
3:17pm Thu 5 Jun 08

I know the group set off at 6am. I guess they followed the signposts to Brighton. What we need is the cycle routes to be well signed.
This is from the police pressline:
"An 18 year old woman cyclist ..... was in collision with a vehicle which was joining the slip road. The cyclist was then in a subsequent collision with a following vehicle. Sadly, the cyclist died at the scene as a result of her injuries.
A 55 woman was arrested at the scene and subsequently bailed.
http://www.sussex.po


lice.uk/pressline/ex


pand.aspx?uniqueid=2


3895

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Tony, Brighton says...
3:24pm Thu 5 Jun 08

Yet another example of what happens when you have unmoderated forums - you get idiots posting crap just to get a reaction and the "webmaster" (sic) blindly sits back and lets it go on because its nice and controversial.

My heart felt sympathy to the poor girls family and friends. What a shame you may stumble across this idiocy at your darkest time.


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mike s, portslade says...
4:15pm Thu 5 Jun 08

JJ wrote:
Mike S, in answer to your questions.. No, no and no Now go away unless you have something to post about this tragedy that doesnt just involve whinging about others..
Go away?

Is it "your game" then?
Your ball?
Is your dad a policem
an?

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kristel, france says...
6:41pm Thu 5 Jun 08

The young cyclist was my sister.
Thank you for her.

Gerry please can you send us an email because my parents are desapointed.


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A Cyclist, UK says...
6:54pm Thu 5 Jun 08

The reality is not everyone pays as much attention as they perhaps they should do on their way home especially when they do exactly the same journey every day. People do have lapses of concentration.This often causes accidents


It is sad that we think it is acceptable to lose concentration and possibly kill someone. Our whole attitude to driving a car needs to be changed.

Young French cyclist, RIP.

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road user, hove says...
7:15pm Thu 5 Jun 08

A Cyclist wrote:
The reality is not everyone pays as much attention as they perhaps they should do on their way home especially when they do exactly the same journey every day. People do have lapses of concentration.This often causes accidents


It is sad that we think it is acceptable to lose concentration and possibly kill someone. Our whole attitude to driving a car needs to be changed.

Young French cyclist, RIP.
A Cyclist.......you seem to have misunderstood me a little. i do not think it is acceptable to lose concentration ( i'm not taking sides in anyway here at all) I'm merely stating the fact that it does actually happen. Therefore i would urge other cylcists not to use roads such as the A23 where there is no cylce lane and people travel quite legally at 70 mph. In that way the possibility of further tragic incidents like this one are completely avoided.

I can't even begin to imagine how upset this girl's family are and hope that they are able, in their own time. to come to terms with what has happened.


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Gerry, London says...
7:38pm Thu 5 Jun 08

Kristel,
I have been thinking about you and your family all day. email me and I will reply straight away: gp(AT) anothereye.co.uk

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LJ, Hove says...
9:11pm Thu 5 Jun 08

i drove past the accident before the emergency services arrived, the image of that poor girl will haunt me forever.

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melfromhove, hove says...
9:44pm Thu 5 Jun 08

kristel wrote:
The young cyclist was my sister. Thank you for her. Gerry please can you send us an email because my parents are desapointed.
Kristel

We are all so terribly sorry for your loss.

Report this post »

Audrey, Brighton says...
9:56pm Thu 5 Jun 08

A Cyclist wrote:
The reality is not everyone pays as much attention as they perhaps they should do on their way home especially when they do exactly the same journey every day. People do have lapses of concentration.This often causes accidents


It is sad that we think it is acceptable to lose concentration and possibly kill someone. Our whole attitude to driving a car needs to be changed.

Young French cyclist, RIP.
Attiude to driving a car?

Don't use this tragedy to promote nonsense political or otherwise that you believe in.

There is no evidence at this stage who or what is to blame, yet people seem only to happy for hysterical nonsense.
Shame on you.

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Seb, her boyfriend, London/St LEonards-on-Sea says...
11:14pm Thu 5 Jun 08

Thank you for all your kind comments,

from Marie's friends who cycled with her.

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Tim Thornby, Hassocks says...
6:59pm Fri 6 Jun 08

Terrible accident and an appalling tragedy. My thoughts are with the poor kids family and friends......... I must say that I think it is a very dangerous activity cycling on the A23.....but why doesn't WSCC create a good cycle route parallel to it so that these terrible events don't occur.........I thought (even though I very rare ly cycle) that we were all being encouraged to use our cars less?

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oli and ben, says...
10:12pm Tue 10 Jun 08

A Kristel et sa famille. Nous allions a Brighton en bicyclette avec Marie mercoledi la semaine passe. Nous etions tres proche quand l'accidente s'e passe. Se vous voudrez parler avec nous a n'importe quelle heure veuillez envoyer un e-mail chez oliver015@hotmail.co
m (0=zero) Ben et Oliver Robinson

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oli and ben, says...
10:14pm Tue 10 Jun 08

A Kristel et sa famille. Nous allions a Brighton en bicyclette avec Marie mercoledi la semaine passe. Nous etions tres proche quand l'accidente s'e passe. Se vous voudrez parler avec nous a n'importe quelle heure veuillez envoyer un e-mail chez oliver015@hotmail.co
m (0=zero) Ben et Oliver Robinson

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Joe Rowe, Portland Oregon USA says...
10:13pm Sat 21 Jun 08

We mourn for Marie Vesco and all victims of cars. Here is a news link to how things are getting worse here on the West side of the USA, where cycling growing.....

http://portland.indy
media.org/en/2008/06
/376927.shtml

or short link
www. http://tinyurl.com/5
taqnf

peace for all, love, joe

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