Drivers Warned Not To Ignore Flood Road Closures After Worker Hit By Vehicle At Saltbox Roundabout

Motorists in West Sussex are being urged not to drive through flooded roads after a highways worker was struck by a vehicle that ignored a road closure.

West Sussex County Council says the incident happened at the closure of the A29 on Monday morning, when a white Land Rover pushed through barriers and hit a member of the highways team who was dealing with flooding.

The worker was not injured, but the council has reported the incident to police and is asking any witnesses to contact officers on 101.

Flooding has caused a number of road closures across the county, including the A29 Shripney Road, which has been shut at the Saltbox Roundabout in Bersted since 2 February due to exceptionally high water levels.

The council says the road will remain closed to non-residents and non-local business users while conditions persist.

Two flood warnings remain in place for parts of West Sussex — at Fittleworth on the Western River Rother and Pulborough on the River Arun — where flooding is expected.

A further 17 flood alerts are also active, meaning flooding is possible in other areas.

The council says it understands the disruption road closures cause, but warns that attempting to drive through floodwater can delay reopening roads and may worsen flooding by forcing water into nearby homes.

Drivers are also being warned they could invalidate their insurance if their vehicles are damaged by floodwater.

A spokesperson said highways officers on site are there to help and should not be subjected to verbal or physical abuse.

“We want to resolve the issues caused by the adverse weather as quickly as possible,” the spokesperson said. “We ask the public for patience while we do so.”

West Sussex County Council added that above-average rainfall is putting significant pressure on parts of the county, including the highways network.

“The unprecedented levels of rain and prolonged severe weather mean water levels are high and drainage systems are overwhelmed,” the spokesperson said.

“These conditions continue to hamper our efforts to repair roads and keep them open.”

The council says it is working with partner organisations to respond to flooding and identify longer-term solutions.

Forecasters say the unsettled weather is set to continue, with further spells of wet and windy conditions expected throughout the week.

With ground already saturated, further rainfall could increase the risk of flooding, and there is currently no sign of any prolonged dry weather over the next week.