Edson Bordin De Arruda (19) was travelling north on the B2145 Selsey Road in Sidlesham at 8.35pm on Sunday, October 12, when his car left the road and hit a stone wall at the junction at Manhood Lane.

Firefighters from Chichester and Selsey cut the Felpham teenager free from his Vauxhall Astra and he was taken to hospital. But he later died from his injuries.

Road safety campaigners said the fatal crash meant their worst fears had been realised. They are now calling for immediate action.

A crash happened on the same stretch of road last year and now Sidlesham Traffic Action Group (STAG) wants to see more road safety measures put in place.

"We've been saying something like this is going to happen," STAG chairman Adrian Lochhead said.

"What's happened is awful. It's a dangerous road and something needs to be done.

"In Hunston there are central bollards and a sign which lights up and encourages people to slow down. In Sidlesham we have none of these things. Why in one village and not the other?"

Bunches of flowers lie by a demolished wall at the scene of the crash. The incident happened just two doors from where Mr Lochhead lives.

STAG has been campaigning for five years to improve the safety of roads in Sidlesham.

One of its projects is to erect a flashing speed indicator sign on Selsey Road to slow down motorists.

"The county councillors have been great and given us a grant towards buying the speed indicator flashing device. The problem is the council would not let us put the sign up on the post," Mr Lochhead added.

"Staff have come down and measured the roads. They say the road is too narrow to put up a sign."

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council said: "It would be wrong to comment on the accident as it is still being investigated by the police and subject to an inquest, but we will look closely at any issues which arise.

"We do monitor all our roads and will listen to any concerns raised with us, such as whether there is a need for an interactive speed sign."

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to contact the Road Policing Unit at Chichester via 0845 60 70 999, quoting Operation Alstone.



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