TWO people were killed when the driver of a car crashed into their vehicle, causing it to smash into two parked cars.

The driver then abandoned his vehicle and ran from the scene, with police launching a man hunt until they successfully made an arrest almost two and a half hours later.

A 23-year-old man is in custody.

Police believe he was behind the wheel of a black Seat Leon which had smashed into a silver Volkswagen Polo which then in turn collided into two parked cars – a blue BMW 330d and a grey Audi A3.

The driver of the Polo – a 48-year-old woman from Eastbourne – and the passenger – a 46-year-old man from Uckfield – were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

No other injuries were reported.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at about 9.34pm on Friday (August 12) in Bolsover Road, Eastbourne.

Officers conducted a search of the area and arrested a man in Grand Parade, Eastbourne, at about 12.05am on Saturday (August 13).

The 23-year-old, from Eastbourne, was detained on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, driving while unfit through drink or drugs and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.

Witnesses are asked to contact Sussex Police via email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting Operation Harfield.