A man in his 40s has tragically died just days into the start of the New Year following a road traffic collision on a rural road connecting the villages of Godshill and Whitwell.
It was just after 20:00 last night (Saturday) that emergency services were alerted to a serious single vehicle collision involving a Citroen Picasso on Whitwell Road, at the junction with Roud Road.
The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service immediately mobilised 2 ambulances, a critical care paramedic and an operational commander to the scene, with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance scrambled from its base at Thruxton.
At the same time, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service turned out appliances from Newport and Shanklin, with firefighters providing on scene assistance and lighting.
Sadly, despite the efforts of all involved, the driver’s life could not be saved and he was pronounced dead at the roadside.
It appears the vehicle involved was travelling away from Whitwell and veered off the road and up onto a grass verge.
Specialist collision investigators from the mainland arrived at the crash scene shortly after 23:00 last night to conduct a forensic examination of the area to piece together the events that led to the fatal crash.
The National Police Air Service helicopter from Bournemouth collated visual evidence from the skies above shortly after the incident had occurred, before re-deploying to a missing person search in Newport.
Police are now appealing for information, with investigating officers wanting to speak to any witnesses, particularly anyone with relevant dash cam footage, that may assist enquiries.
Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting reference 44260003701. Alternatively, you can make a report online via https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/.
Whitwell Road and Roud Road have both fully reopened this morning.
UPDATE @ 21:59 – Tributes have been pouring in for the victim of yesterday’s crash, named locally as Tristan Price.
Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/tributes-pour-in-for-much-loved-gentle-giant-who-died-in-car-crash/.
you’ve left a big hole buddy. You miss be missed by many. RIP
this is so true
This makes me so sad, he really was a wonderful human being, will be dearly missed by many on this island.
Sorry for your loss
Commiserations
Won’t stop people driving like lunatics though… still out in their numbers last night despite the ice warnings.
RIP to the man who has sadly died. I doubt he was flying around in a Picasso, just a sad accident and a stark reminder of the dangers of island roads in less than favourable conditions.
Very sad news.