Council warned of potholes months before driver died

COUNCIL officials were warned about potholes on a stretch of road almost two months before a Porsche driver died reportedly swerving to avoid a crater.

The 74 year-old from Reigate, Surrey died near Petworth, in West Sussex, after he was in collision with a BMW last Monday.

The crash involved four cars and damaged a house. The 65-year-old driver of the BMW was taken to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.

Police have appealed for information but officers are investigating whether the Porsche swerved to avoid a pothole.

On March 14, two reports were made to West Sussex County Council warning of dangerous potholes on the same stretch of the A272 Horsham Road between Petworth and Fox Hill.

It is around two miles between the villages, but the reports appear to have referred to the crash location.

The council was warned by a member of the public of a 50cm (19.7 inches) wide pothole on the westbound carriageway and a pothole that was 400cm wide and 70cm deep on the eastbound side.

In a report sent to the council, the driver wrote: “Both cause vehicles to veer into the opposite carriageway.

They have been there for longer than 30 days and are continuing to deteriorate.”

The same day the council received another report from a different driver complaining of a “very, very dangerous surface” and stating that both sides were “completely unacceptable”.

The motorist said that “both east and westbound the carriageway is destroyed and liable to cause a serious accident”. The driver added: “In 14 months, I’ve had to buy four new wheels, 12 tyres and two new frontwheel bearings all due to the negligence of the public highway. I want answers.”

The report was made with the Fixmystreet service endorsed by motoring groups and sent to the council.

The sports car was worth between £175,000 and £235,000.

West Sussex County Council said: “We are aware of a collision on the A272 Horsham Road in Petworth on April 29.

“The police are carrying out a collision investigation and we await their findings. It would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time.”

‘In 14 months, I have had to buy four new wheels, 12 new tyres and two new front-wheel bearings’