POLICE are trying to trace the driver of a car involved in a fatal hit and run collision on the A24 near Horsham on Friday afternoon.

A 70-year-old woman driver, from Horsham, died at the scene when her Ford Fiesta car was in collision with a stolen black Mercedes AMG estate as it joined the northbound carriageway on the A24 on the Farthings Hill roundabout near Broadbridge Heath shortly after 2.30pm.

A passenger in the Fiesta, a female friend of the driver, also 70 and from Horsham, suffered minor injuries.

Police joined in the search for the driver who fled from the scene by dog units and the National Air Support Service helicopter.

A forensic examination has been made of the scene between the Broadbridge Heath and Robin Hood roundabouts.

Earlier, at 2.19pm, officers had traced the black Mercedes, which was believed to have been stolen in a burglary at a house in Goring, at the Buck Barn crossroads.

It was seen to leave the services in convoy with a Mercedes A Class.

Both vehicles failed to stop for officers and at 2.23pm the Mercedes A Class, which had also been stolen, crashed into a hedge near the services.

The driver ran off, but was located and arrested nearby.

The second car, the stolen Mercedes AMG, continued to drive away, but was not being pursued by police when it was involved in the fatal crash 11 minutes later.

Detective Inspector Will Rolls said: “This is a tragic incident involving two innocent members of the public.

“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the driver who ran from the scene after crashing in to the Ford Fiesta. We believe he tried to flag down a lift from near the fatal crash scene minutes later. I would appeal to anyone who has any information to contact us.”

An 18-year-old man from Feltham has been arrested on suspicion of burglary.