Horrific crashes caught on CCTV at junction ‘invisible’ on satnavs

These shocking CCTV clips show how an accident blackspot has caused a series of horrific crashes in a small village.

Locals say there have been five crashes in the past 12 months and believe they are being caused because the dangerous cross junction does not show up on satnavs.

Several of the accidents have been captured by CCTV at the Heath Stores shop on the corner of the junction, in the village of Horsmonden near Tonbridge, Kent.

Locals say there have been five crashes in the past 12 months and believe they are being caused because the dangerous cross junction does not show up on satnavs (Pictured: A 4×4 careers into a John Lewis van before hitting a house and telephone pole)

The first smash saw a Land Rover hit a John Lewis lorry side on, sending it careering into a house and a telephone pole.

In another video, an elderly man using two walking sticks to walk slowly across the road is seen nearly being hit after two cars dramatically collide.

Just 49 seconds after the frail pensioner crossed the road CCTV footage shows one of the crashed cars ending up on the exact spot where he had been standing. 

Villagers say it is only a matter of time before someone is critically hurt or killed. 

The accidents occur when vehicles fail to stop at the junction and crash side-on into traffic on the other road.

At the junction there is an octagonal red ‘stop’ sign on the left-hand side of the road which can be seen just above a large privet hedge.

In another video, this elderly man using two walking sticks to walk slowly across the road is seen nearly being hit after two cars dramatically collide

In another video, this elderly man using two walking sticks to walk slowly across the road is seen nearly being hit after two cars dramatically collide

There is also a white painted ‘stop’ sign on the road surface along with white lines.

But it is understood these had faded recently, before being repainted on Monday.

Horrifying CCTV footage from the most recent incident shows a car slam into the side of another vehicle on Saturday night. 

Miraculously only one man received minor injuries, but the crash between a BMW and a Ford Fiesta has sparked renewed calls for safety at the potentially fatal crossroads to be improved. 

One Grade II listed building was damaged when it was struck by a lorry, says Heath Stores owner Kate Mills. 

Speaking about the crashes, she said: ‘We hear the bang and our hearts sink. Everyone groans: ‘Not again. Please let nobody be hurt’.

 Just 49 seconds after the frail pensioner crossed the road CCTV footage shows one of the crashed cars ending up on the exact spot where he had been standing 

 Just 49 seconds after the frail pensioner crossed the road CCTV footage shows one of the crashed cars ending up on the exact spot where he had been standing 

‘We rush out hoping nobody has been seriously hurt – luckily nobody has been. We bring the people inside and they are in complete shock.

‘The ones who fail to stop say, ‘I did not see the junction’. They can’t quite believe what they have done. In the crash from January, a BT cabinet was nearly hit. We have BT engineers in front of that regularly.

‘Each time the cars are pretty much written off. But each time we are hoping we are not going to see a pedestrian laying there.

‘When we played back the CCTV footage and saw how close the old man was to being hit we released the CCTV.

‘He would have been killed. As a village, there is quite a bit of fear. People won’t cross at the cross road anymore – they try and avoid it.’

Ms Mills added: ‘People don’t buy sat navs as much, they rely on Google Maps, which doesn’t tell you to stop. I tested this out yesterday and turned onto this road and it told me to keep going.’ 

The accidents occur when vehicles fail to stop at the junction and crash side-on into traffic on the other road (pictured: a night time crash at the junction)

The accidents occur when vehicles fail to stop at the junction and crash side-on into traffic on the other road (pictured: a night time crash at the junction)

Local councillor Alan McDermott said he is ‘surprised’ nobody has been killed or seriously injured, and demanded sat-nav safety is probed.

He said: ‘I have lived here since 1977 and there has never been a problem so it has to be the sat navs.

‘In the last four or five years there have been more accidents than ever. I am surprised nobody has died so far. There are children being taken across the road at times.’

Mr McDermott, a member of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, has called for Kent County Council to adopt improved safety measures, including more signs warning drivers to stop at the junction. 

A Kent County Council spokesman said it was working alongside Horsmonden Parish Council, which has commissioned a consultant to develop a road safety scheme.

Safety measures being considered include a speed-limit change, junction improvement and improved signage.

But KCC said it was unable to prevent ‘dangerous driving’ and said drivers lowering their speed was ‘essential’. 

A Kent Police spokesman said: ‘Kent Police was called at 8.05pm on Saturday 3 March regarding a collision involving three cars on The Heath at Hordmonden.

‘Officers and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene where a man was treated for injuries that are described as minor.’ 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk