Hundreds of pounds of damage to temporary roadwork barriers has been caused by a suspected drink driver in Arreton overnight, leaving road safety equipment strewn across the main road through the village.
Approximately 20 metres of road work signs and barriers were left displaced and destroyed late last night (Wednesday) after what police believe to have been a single-vehicle collision in the quiet parish.
Nearby residents reported hearing the collision, with the vehicle apparently failing to stop and continuing to drive on with something – thought to have been a piece of temporary road furniture – stuck under their car.
It comes as elsewhere – and as first reported by Island Echo – 2 roadside advertising signs were also destroyed overnight just a few hundred metres up the road, with tyre tracks being found on the grass verge.
Whilst no confirmation has officially been made that the 2 incidents are connected, or that the damage was caused by the same vehicle, their proximity to one another has led locals to the conclusion that the ‘chaos’ could have been caused by an intoxicated driver.
Hampshire Constabulary has told Island Echo that the incident is under investigation but that no arrests have been made at this time.
Saying it is suspected drunk driver sounds like it would be an excuse for this. Chances are the drivers may have been drunk but this sounds more like bored teens. Maybe they don’t have any youth clubs to go to.
Not sure we want advertising littering up the roadsides but that’s no excuse for vandalising the verges and roadworks barriers.
Pubs open, the vandalism starts again. The alcoholic minority spoilt it for the rest. And the publican knows who they are but do nothing because it pays the rent. Pubs should pick up the bill, they fuel this behaviour.