A driver who parked his car to have a snooze in the middle of a dual carriageway and then sped away from police at speeds of 120mph before crashing in Hangleton managed to escape on foot.
Police now want to trace the driver of the white BMW 3-series saloon car crashed into undergrowth at a roundabout at Hangleton during the early hours of Monday (4 July).
After colliding with hedges and a telephone exchange box, the driver was able to get out of the car and fled on foot. Despite an extensive search of the area and use of tracker dogs and a drone, the suspect is still at large.
The incident began at around 2.40am as officers in a marked police car, travelling east on the A27 just beyond Southwick tunnel, saw the suspect’s car stopped in the middle of the dual carriageway at around 2.40am.
The patrol stopped to investigate but when the driver, who had been asleep, was roused by a tap on the window he immediately drove off at high speed.
The patrol followed but despite displaying blue lights indicating that the suspect should stop, he continued at speeds of more than 120mph before leaving the A27 at the junction for Devil’s Dyke Road.
The BMW failed to brake and continued over the roundabout before coming to rest some 30 feet into hedges and undergrowth.
The suspect left the car and disappeared into woodland on foot. A detailed search failed to locate him. It is not known if he sustained any injuries.
He is described as a white man, in his late 20s, slim, with short fair hair, wearing a white coat and a large wristwatch.
Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or phone 101, quoting serial 93 of 04/07.
