SERIOUSLY HURT

A YOUNG boy suffered serious head injuries when he was hit by a car as he crossed the road near his home.

William Jacobs, 11, hit the windscreen of a Ford Escort in Woodsland Road, Hassocks, after he walked into the road from between two parked vehicles.

He was on his way home from Windmills Junior School. William suffered a fractured skull and other injuries and was taken by ambulance to the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

His father Jeremy today said doctors are pleased with his recovery and joined police calls for youngsters to be careful crossing roads.

areful

Mr Jacobs, and his wife Sally, have been at William's bedside since the accident. They say he is conscious Mr Jacobs said: "Normally he is careful crossing the road but children are children and they can lose their concentration.

"It doesn't matter how old you are you have always got to be careful crossing the road."

Driver Paul Morris, 25, of Maple Close, Haywards Heath, was shocked by the accident but unhurt.

Inspector Ian Pickett of Sussex Police said: "This indicates the dangers of crossing the road from between parked cars.

"It's best to find a safe place to cross, to make sure you can see in both directions and keep looking while you cross the road.

He added: "This was a crash that could have easily been avoided."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact PC Woodford at Haywards Heath traffic division on 01444 445826.

A MAN'S neck was broken when he was involved in a four-car crash.

The 62-year-old is in a critical but stable condition in hospital where police and staff are desperately trying to trace all members of his family.

The man had to be resuscitated at the scene of the crash in Horsham last night before being airlifted to Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The accident happened in Tower Hill near its junction with the A2400. Police had to block off the road for nearly three hours.

A Skoda is believed to have turned right on to the A2400 into the path of an oncoming Ford Escort, driven by the injured man.

elicopter

Both cars skidded along the road and hit a VW Golf and a VW Polo.

The driver of the Skoda was shaken but unhurt and the woman driver of the Golf suffering from whiplash. The male driver of the Polo was unhurt.

The new joint Sussex police and ambulance helicopter was scrambled to the scene on its first medical emergency since being brought into service on Tuesday. It landed in a field nearby.

Helicopter prramedic Sean Mitchell said: "We went because the ambulance said there was an unconscious patient and it was going to take them about 15 minutes to get there.

"The patient was not able to breathe so we assisted by passing a tube into his lungs. The doctor had already started resuscitation."

Police are appealing for more information about the accident, which happened at 6.15pm.

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