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5 months ago
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A man driving a high-performance Porsche sports car died after clipping an oncoming car and crashing into the side of a house while trying to dodge a pothole, police believe.
The 74-year-old man, from Reigate in Surrey, was pronounced dead at the scene after his 911 997 GT2 - a stripped back version of the iconic sports car designed for driving at race circuits - hit multiple cars and a roadside home on a Sussex road.
A 65-year-old man from Midhurst in Sussex who was driving a white BMW was taken to hospital after incurring 'serious injuries' in the smash. Two other vehicles, a black BMW and a white Audi, were also involved.
Police are appealing for information and sources have indicated that one theory relates to a large pothole close to the crash site, which they believe the man may have sought to avoid as he travelled along the road on Monday at 7.50am.
The crash, on the A272 Horsham Road near Petworth, was on the same day as a Porsche owners club track day at Goodwood racing circuit just a few miles away.
Police are appealing for information following a fatal collision involving a high performance version of a Porsche sports car
The 74-year-old who was driving the left-hand drive Porsche 911 997 GT2 (pictured) died at the scene
Police are examining theories that the driver may have swerved to avoid a pothole. The road has several craters (one pictured)
Another crevice in the road close to the scene of the crash. Police have not reached any conclusions about the cause of the crash
An air ambulance was summoned to the scene (above). A 65-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries but is now stable
The crash saw the Porsche clip an oncoming car, crash into a BMW and ram into a roadside house on the A272 close to Goodwood racing circuit
Porsche Club Great Britain does not know whether the car, which had a personalised number plate, belonged to one of its members.
A spokesperson said: 'At this time, we haven't been informed that this is one of our members.'
Sussex Police detectives believe the left-hand drive sports car crashed into the BMW as it swerved to avoid the crater in the tarmac, hitting two other vehicles and the porch of a roadside house before coming to a stop.
A source close to the investigation said: 'It's possible one of the cars swerved to avoid the pothole. It's something we are looking at.'
Paramedics, including an air ambulance, were summoned and treated the man at the scene. Despite their best efforts he died before he could be taken to hospital.
The 65-year-old driver of the white BMW who was injured was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester where he is now in stable. The drivers of the two other vehicles were not injured.
Those living near the scene said the stretch of road is notorious for speeding. There is no suggestion at this time that excessive speed played a factor in the incident.
One local said: 'Everybody speeds down this hill. After winding through all the lanes, its frustration.
'Once they see the long straight, they think: "This is my chance to overtake".'
The Porsche 911 997 GT2 was, at the time it was released 15 years ago, the fastest road car that the German manufacturer made
The car is designed for driving at race circuits and has no rear seats, which are swapped out for a roll cage for safety reasons
The car was only the third ever road-legal car Porsche had produced that was capable of exceeding 200mph
The GT2 is among the fastest editions of the 911 sports car that Porsche produces.
The German manufacturer began producing the stripped-back version of the car in the 1990s as a roadgoing companion to its competitive racing models.
The 997-generation version of the car became only the third ever road-legal Porsche to be capable of exceeding speeds of 200mph and was, at the time of its launch 15 years ago, the fastest road car the company had ever built.
It had a highly tuned engine and a stripped out lightweight interior - with its rear seats swapped out for a roll cage - to make it as fast as possible, and was designed primarily for driving at race tracks.
Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the collision to come forward.
This includes anyone with CCTV in the area, and anyone with dashcam footage from vehicles in the area at the time.
Information can be reported to Sussex Police online or emailed to collision.appeal@sussex.police.uk quoting Operation Preston.
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