Bexhill father and son in A27 crash with skip lorry

It is believed the impact of the accident, which happened at between Falmer and Hollingbury at around 7.15am, threw the 27-year-old son from the van.

Emergency crews rescued him from beneath the 15-tonne skip lorry.

He suffered major head injuries and was transported by road to Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital. Police described the younger man’s condition as “critical but stable”.

Fire crews from Brighton and Lewes used cutting equipment to free the father, 53-year-old Mick Matthews, from the white Toyota van.

The eastbound lane of the A27 was closed near the scene for around an hour to allow an air ambulance to land and transport the older man to a major trauma unit at Kings College Hospital, London.

He suffered multiple injuries.

Police describe his condition as “serious but stable.”

The driver of the skip lorry, a 53-year-old man from Hove, received minor injuries and was discharged from hospital after treatment.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen a white van going very slowly or which had broken down.

Superintendent Tony Baker of Sussex Police said early indications were that both men were in the van at the time of the crash.

“The small white Toyota van pulled over to the verge just west of the Hollingbury turn-off. The lorry collided with that vehicle and both people inside suffered serious injuries.”

Sergeant Neil Walker said: “We believe the white van was breaking down or had broken down. It was partially in lane one and on the verge when it was involved in a collision with a skip lorry.

“We are keen to talk to anyone who saw the van before and at the time of the collision or has any information.”

The westbound carriageway of the A27 was closed for almost six hours, causing major traffic congestion in the area with queues back to the Lewes bypass.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Stanway.