A busy road was closed for nearly eight hours yesterday after a three-car horror crash led to an arrest.

A 33-year-old man from Crawley was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after the incident on the A29 near Slindon at 9.30am.

The road between Fontwell and the Whiteways Lodge roundabout, known as Fairmile Bottom, was closed to traffic in both directions following the collision and did not reopen until 5.04pm.

Among the wreckage was a badly damaged silver BMW, a black Nissan 4x4 Juke, also with severe damage, and a Ford Mondeo.

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A 48-year-old woman from Pulborough trapped in the Nissan Juke was released by firefighters and Sussex Police said she had been taken by air ambulance to hospital with serious injuries to her neck, ribs and abdomen.

A 24-year-old Bognor man who suffered serious injuries to his wrist and ribs was taken by ambulance to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

A 33-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

One commuter who was affected by the incident said it was the worst car crash she had ever seen and that her thoughts were with everyone involved.

Police are urging anyone who saw what happened or has any information to call 101 or email collision.appeal@sussex.pn n.police.uk, quoting Operation Melton.

A year ago this week, with snow blanketing Sussex, a petrol tanker smashed into a lorry, causing the same stretch of road to be closed for nearly three hours.