Tractor driver arrested for causing man's death after bales of straw fall on victim's car

4:31pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

A tractor driver has been arrested on causing death by dangerous driving after bales of straw fell onto a car, killing its occupant.

The incident took place at 7.10am today in Street End Road, Sidlesham, near Chichester.

A Sussex Police statement said: “A red Alfa Romeo was in collision with the trailer of a tractor being towed in the opposite direction. The tractor was carrying bales of straw which fell onto the car.”

Sergeant Carl Knapp said: "Sadly, the 70-year-old man from Portsmouth, who was the only occupant of the car, has died following the collision.

"The driver of the tractor, a 25-year-old man from Chichester, has been arrested on suspicion of death by careless or dangerous driving.

"The road is still closed and will remain so for several hours while officers investigate."

Two other cars were involved but no-one else was injured.

A message on the Chichester police Facebook page said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.”

Anyone who has information is asked to contact police on 101.

Comments(12)

Rev Enge says...
6:56pm Fri 28 Sep 12

Further evidence farmers should not be allowed on public roads with dangerous weapons.

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WestSussexDriver says...
7:52pm Fri 28 Sep 12

Rev Enge..... What a pathetic comment! I hope your garden is big enough to grow all the food needed to support you and you family all year round??? How else do you expect food to get to your table? Or perhaps you are one of the uneducated sorts that doesnt actually realise where food comes from?!
Were you following the tractor? Did you see if there was a mechanical failure? Just because the driver has been arrested does NOT make him guilty. Or perhaps he was swerving to avoid a child?

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John Steed says...
10:58pm Fri 28 Sep 12

harvest time is the silly season, numerous accidents involving tractors and trailors and motorists who often do not take the care that should be exercised when using the road in conjunction with agricutural vehicles,Imake no judgement in this case but i have witnessed a few collisions between cars and agricultural vehicles in every case I have witnessed it was avoidable if the car driver had exercised adquate care.

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Made In Sussex says...
11:29pm Fri 28 Sep 12

Other day coming home from work on A27 between hangleton and hove observed a tractor on other carriageway stacked high with straw bales. So high that its flashing warning light was obscured so traffic behind would could not see it. Considering this is a slow moving vehicle on A fast undulating and bendy road thus seems pretty wreckless. We need tractors but some tractor drivers need a reality check before other drivers are killed or injured.

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Worthingwithoutbuses! says...
7:39am Sat 29 Sep 12

Perhaps it was just an 'Accident'??? Let the Police do their investigating before 'idiots' make ridiculous comments. I am not a farmer but how else do you get the crop from the field to the shops??? Anyway, sad news for the family involved.

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F in L says...
8:28am Sat 29 Sep 12

The charge is Death by Dangerous Driving, that is a prison sentence.

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greeg2 says...
9:14am Sat 29 Sep 12

WestSussexDriver wrote:
Rev Enge..... What a pathetic comment! I hope your garden is big enough to grow all the food needed to support you and you family all year round??? How else do you expect food to get to your table? Or perhaps you are one of the uneducated sorts that doesnt actually realise where food comes from?! Were you following the tractor? Did you see if there was a mechanical failure? Just because the driver has been arrested does NOT make him guilty. Or perhaps he was swerving to avoid a child?
Swerving to avoid running over someone is no excuse for spilling your load,or it having been caused by some sort of mechanical problem either.Shouldn't happen if the load's secure,period.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
10:38am Sat 29 Sep 12

There are photos on the Mail website. The whole trailer looks as if its gone over.

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WestSussexDriver says...
3:59pm Sat 29 Sep 12

greeg2 wrote:
WestSussexDriver wrote:
Rev Enge..... What a pathetic comment! I hope your garden is big enough to grow all the food needed to support you and you family all year round??? How else do you expect food to get to your table? Or perhaps you are one of the uneducated sorts that doesnt actually realise where food comes from?! Were you following the tractor? Did you see if there was a mechanical failure? Just because the driver has been arrested does NOT make him guilty. Or perhaps he was swerving to avoid a child?
Swerving to avoid running over someone is no excuse for spilling your load,or it having been caused by some sort of mechanical problem either.Shouldn't happen if the load's secure,period.
The load can be securely attatched to the trailer.... even if the trailer is on on its side

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ShorehamBeachcomber says...
8:19am Sun 30 Sep 12

Looking at the photo shows the tractor upright on the correct side of the road with the huge trailer still attached but completely on the opposite side of the road. As the trailer wheels are resting on their side on a double white line it's clear this a no overtaking/bend situation & the only conclusion that can be drawn is the trailer has gone round a bend at too high a speed & flipped over onto the oncoming traffic. Horrendous & disgraceful

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F in L says...
6:28pm Sun 30 Sep 12

ShorehamBeachcomber wrote:
Looking at the photo shows the tractor upright on the correct side of the road with the huge trailer still attached but completely on the opposite side of the road. As the trailer wheels are resting on their side on a double white line it's clear this a no overtaking/bend situation & the only conclusion that can be drawn is the trailer has gone round a bend at too high a speed & flipped over onto the oncoming traffic. Horrendous & disgraceful
That is exactly what happened and it was witnessed by one of the other driver involved. He is going to prison.

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portchester21 says...
8:42am Mon 1 Oct 12

Until the police reports come out no one knows what happened or how it happened. So personally out of respect for all families involved we shouldn't comment as none of us know anymore and can only make silly guesses as to what actually happened.

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