A suspect has been released under investigation following a four-vehicle crash which left a father dead and his son seriously injured in hospital.

The accident happened at 11.11am on Wednesday on the A267 at Frant on the approach to Tunbridge Wells, just over the border in East Sussex.

A 36-year-old man from Dartford died at the scene and his two-year-old son was flown to King’s College Hospital in London with head injuries, where he remains in a critical but stable condition.

Sussex Police has been working to trace the driver of one of the vehicles involved and yesterday arrested a 76-year-old man from Tunbridge Wells on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and for failing to stop after a road accident.

He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The road remained closed for more than nine hours following the accident, reopening at about 8.30pm.

Lorry driver Ben Evans was among the first group of motorists to arrive at the scene who battled to save the dad's life and his son.

The 30-year-old from the East Midlands said: "I didn't see the accident happen I just came round the corner and I saw the traffic and a lorry and car in front that had stopped.

"They had already got the child out the car and there were plenty of people scurrying about."

Also at the scene was an off-duty doctor who enquired with other drivers after a knife to help cut the driver free from his vehicle which had crashed into a hedge.

Police are urging any witnesses, or anyone who may have captured either of the vehicles in the area on dash cam, to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Utility.

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