A SENIOR fire officer today criticised drivers who failed to help at the scene of a fatal accident.

Station Officer Mark Osborne, based at the West Sussex Fire Brigade Training Centre in Worthing, also claimed that not enough motorists learn first-aid or have first-aid kits in their vehicles.

Mr Osborne was speaking after the death of an elderly motorist who suffered massive injuries in a head-on collision near Findon.

The off-duty fire officer was driving a couple of cars behind when the accident happened at 7.03am on the A280 Long Furlong road.

He stopped and administered first-aid until two ambulance crews arrived, but he said not enough people stopped to help him.

He said: "I was surprised that more motorists didn't stop to offer help. An off-duty policeman managed the traffic, but only a couple of people offered assistance.

"And I had to stop about six commercial vehicles before I found one with a first-aid kit.

"More people should have first-aid training, and all vehicles should have first-aid kits.

"I usually have one in mine, but I had just taken it out while the car was being serviced."

John Longford-Lewis, 65, of Redhill, Surrey, was taken to Worthing Hospital with severe injuries to his face, chest, arms and legs, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Mr Longford-Lewis's blue Renault Clio was in collision with a blue Peugeot 306 being driven by Simean Abraham, 35, of Mill Road Avenue, Angmering.

Mr Abraham was also slightly injured in the crash but did not need hospital treatment.

Mr Longford-Lewis was trapped in the wreckage of his car, and firefighters from Worthing using cutting equipment took about half-an-hour to free him.

Anyone who saw the accident should contact PC Jason Riches at Shoreham traffic police on 01903 231821.

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