A MAN has spoken of his horror when he saw a driver crash his car into two others.

Trevor Bray, 55, was on the number 700 bus when he saw the dramatic crash on the A259 near the harbour front at Southwick.

Mr Bray, who lives in Southwick, said: “We just heard such a loud bang behind us when we were on the bus.

“Then a car went flying past the bus and the mess left was unreal.”

Mr Bray said the crash left a trail of destruction.

He said: “All the fencing and railings on the side of the road were torn up and there was debris everywhere.”

He said other cars were badly damaged in the crash and traffic was brought to a standstill.

Mr Bray said: “I don’t think anyone was too badly hurt, which was lucky.

“There was a mother and her baby looking incredibly distressed. They looked so shaken up.

“A couple of the cars had their entire passenger sides taken out.

“Traffic was just gridlocked.”

After the crash passersby sat on and held down a man believed to be the driver of the car which crashed.

A police spokesman said: “A black BMW C330 collided with a silver Kia Sportage and a red Ford Focus, before colliding with a chain link fence close to the junction with Church Road in Portslade at about 12.54pm on Wednesday.

“Three further vehicles were also damaged as a result of flying debris.

“Members of the public detained a 23-year-old man until police arrived at the scene, and he was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

“The suspect was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton as a precaution, where he was seen for minor injuries. Four other people also reported minor injuries.

“The man was later de-arrested and detained under the Mental Health Act, but remains under investigation in connection with the incident.

“Police would like to hear from any witnesses, anyone with dash cam or CCTV of the incident, or anyone who saw the BMW travelling eastbound from Shoreham to Fishersgate prior to the collision.”

A section of the road was closed until about 6.55pm while forensics investigations were carried out at the scene.