Tragic accident claimed the life of 'bubbly' Elena on A27

By The Newsroom
Published 22nd May 2009, 14:14 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 17:48 BST
A 'lively and bubbly' woman died after failing to spot a vehicle at a dangerous junction along the A27.

Elena Hedges, 20, was on her way back to her home in Canal Road, Yapton, about 2.25pm on November 3 last year after buying some brake pads for her car.

Miss Hedges, who was training to be a hospitalities manager at The Stables in Fontwell, had been driving east in her white VW Polo and was approaching the Walberton junction to turn right into Yapton Lane.

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An inquest in Chichester heard Miss Hedges did not see a caddy van driving west along the A27 and pulled out across its path.

The van driver, Jason Rockey, was driving towards Chichester.

Reading from his statement, he said: "It's a dangerous junction. I've often wondered why it has been allowed for traffic to go across two lanes '“ a roundabout would be much safer.

"I was about 15ft from the exit point of the slip road when I saw a vehicle flash in front of me from the central reservation '“ there was no time to react."

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