Road Crash Kills BT Engineer

A BT telephone engineer working on a grass verge alongside the A272 near Billingshurst was killed when a Ford Transit crashed last Monday. Police said the driver of a Ford Transit van lost control on a right hand bend and went up on to the verge.  

A spokesman for Sussex Ambulance said the victim, 46-year-old CWU member David Rennison, died suffered massive injuries and was certified dead at the scene by a local GP. Police officers closed the road between Billingshurst and Coneyhurst while they investigated the scene. The Police are asking for anyone with information, or who saw the Ford Transit before the collision, can contact Haywards Heath road policing department on 0845 60 70 999, or Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111. 

CWU National Health & Safety Officer Dave Joyce said - "We were notified of the tragedy shortly after the accident occurred by our local branch secretary of the Portsmouth, West Sussex and Isle of Wight Branch who's officers are dealing with the matter and giving every assistance to the family. Our safety representative is working with BT and carrying out a full, thorough investigation. I am told that David Rennison was a happy, friendly man and the Union's 
condolences go to his partner and relatives from whom he has been taken before his time."  

Describing the area as a dangerous stretch of the A272, local residents said there had been several serious crashes on this stretch of the A272 over the years and called for changes to improve the area's safety.  West Sussex County Council confirmed there had been 75 people injured in crashes on the A272 between Cowfold and Billingshurst in the last three years with 12 people seriously injured but no recorded deaths.

District councillor Geoff Lawes said "Dangerous sections of the busy A272 were well signed but it didn't stop the subsequent crashes. Road improvements have included extending the 30mph speed limit to the outskirts of Billingshurst and that could be extended further because drivers speed up at the end of the zone but there's few passing places and drivers get frustrated by motorists sticking to the speed limit and are tempted to overtake. There are dangerous areas including the junction with Wooddale Lane."

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services