It's hard to know where to start when you have so little experience of putting into words emotions about an incident that has shocked Sussex to its very core.

I drive from Woodingdean to Crawley daily thinking little more than what will the day bring in the morning or what's for tea heading home.

But last Tuesday evening I experienced something I shall remember for many years to come. The traffic had been slow from the Bolney turning heading into Brighton. As I travelled, now at a snail's pace, past the Goddards Green slip road I became very aware that the traffic was moving at this pace for a reason.

As I approached the scene of Sunday's accident I could see some of the family and friends comforting each other accompanied and watched over by officers from Sussex Police.

It was then I started to cry with a feeling that every other person passing the scene was doing exactly the same as me. I felt at my most useless, desperate to stop and offer my heartfelt sympathy.

But how could I without looking or feeling a fool and, most important, what would I have said when I felt no words had been invented to express what I was feeling?

Could I thank the passing motorists for the dignified way they passed the scene and Sussex Police for being there again in a time of grief.

To the family and friends of all the young people who lost their battle for life we may not be able to put into words our thoughts and feelings but please be assured we are thinking of you day and night.

-Martin Hughes, Woodingdean