The driver killed in a crash outside an animal rescue centre in Ringmer yesterday was a taxi driver, it has emerged.

The 54-year-old, from Uckfield, was driving along the B2192 when his Citroen Xsara left the road and hit a tree at 8.15am outside Raystede Animal Rescue Centre in Ringmer, near Lewes.

His passenger, a 15-year-old girl, was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, but her injuries were last night described as not life-threatening.

Police closed the road for almost three hours while they tried to determine how and why the car crashed.

There have been several accidents on that stretch of the B2192 during the past few years. On December 3 last year, Petros Moshat, a 41-year-old Greek national from Maynard’s Green, near Heathfield, died when his Volkswagen Polo collided with a Renault Scenic in The Broyle.

Locals said the 60mph road was an accident blackspot especially at night because of the lack of street lighting. Nigel Mason, chief executive at the animal centre, said: “People come up behind you far too quickly and although you put your indicators on to say you are turning in, they don’t give up.

“People travel too fast and too close and they try to overtake on a blind hill. It’s just really dangerous.

“One of the worst things are motorbike riders - they use it as a race track. They must do 80 to 90mph. There are two to three blind spots where if people do not know the road then they cannot see what the hazards are.”

“We have all witnessed difficulties and have seen accidents. Car drivers power along at 70mph.The police sometimes turn up with speed traps but it is not enough.”

Residents living in The Broyle have put their concerns to Ringmer Parish Council and plan to take them to Lewes District Council and to Lewes MP Norman Baker.

Resident Jerry Cannell said: “About 30 out of 35 residents put their views forward. We had a fatality right outside our house in December.

“About four or five weeks ago the police helicopter had to be called out. Thankfully no one was killed in that accident but there were children involved.”

Anyone with information about yesterday’s accident should call police on 0845 6070999 . Did you see the crash, or do you know the driver or the injured girl?

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