A driver could be seriously injured after fleeing the scene of a crash, police fear.

Sussex Police say they found a car embedded in bushes by the side of the A22 yesterday evening, but after a search the driver was nowhere to be seen.

Now a high-risk missing person investigation has been launched to find the driver with fears they could be badly hurt.

Chief Inspector Dave Groombridge said: "This appears to be a single vehicle collision, however we cannot locate the driver who could be seriously injured. We are searching the area and appealing for anyone who may have seen the vehicle leave the road and crash earlier this evening or anyone with injuries leaving the scene.

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"This is being treated as high risk missing person investigation. If anyone has any information which could assist us please call 999 quoting serial 1352 of 07/06."

Emergency services were called to Hailsham Road in Polegate at 8.55pm on Friday and discovered a car in dense bushes and undergrowth near the Cophall Wood recycling centre.

A search was made of the vehicle and in the immediate area but no one was found.

The A22 was closed in both directions yesterday evening but has since re-opened.