Police appeal after fatal road traffic collision on the Isle of Wight

Police are appealing for witnesses after a suspected hit-and-run fatal road traffic collision on the Isle of Wight near the site of last weekend's Bestival.

A 19-year-old man from Cornwall was a pedestrian on Mersley Down Road near Robin Hill Country Park at approximately midnight on Sunday, 12th September 2010.

He was involved in a collision with a silver Ford Focus, which was being driven along Mersley Down Road from Newport towards Ryde.

The 19-year-old received medical attention at the collision scene, and was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Newport where he was pronounced dead.

Next-of-kin and the Isle of Wight Coroner were informed. Formal identification of the body is due to take place today (Monday, September 13, 2010).

The 19-year-old deceased is believed to have spent some time inside the Bestival music festival before the road traffic collision happened. A 20-year-old woman from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who was near the 19-year-old, received injuries that were not life threatening. She was also taken to hospital and released later on Sunday.

A 33-year-old man from Worthing, West Sussex was arrested on Mersley Down Road shortly before 1.30am on Sunday. He was detained by police on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. The suspect was taken to Newport Police Station for questioning and later bailed until Monday 13th December, 2010 pending further enquiries.

A second man, believed to have been a passenger in the Ford Focus, was also arrested in the Mersley Down Road area during the early hours of yesterday morning. The 20-year-old from Dyfed, Wales was questioned and bailed until Monday 13th December, 2010 pending further enquiries.

Parts of Mersley Down Road were closed for ten hours yesterday (Sunday, 12th September 12, 2010 while police carried out an investigation at the collision scene.

Sergeant Andy Lynch of Hampshire Constabulary's Road Death Investigation Team (RDIT) said, "Police are continuing to work with Bestival organisers to establish exactly how the people involved in the collision were connected to the music festival. We would like to thank event promoters and security staff for their considerable co-operation and support.

"We are also grateful to members of the public who assisted with looking after the injured at the collision scene, and those have come forward with information so far. The investigation team is renewing its appeal for any further witnesses who saw the Ford Focus, the collision or its immediate aftermath. We are particularly keen to hear from any motorists who were driving along Mersley Down Road shortly before or after the collision, which happened sometime during the first 20 minutes after midnight on Sunday morning. We believe there were some motorists and potential witnesses who did not stop at the scene because they did not realise how serious the collision was at the time."

Anyone with information about the circumstances surrounding this collision is asked to contact the Road Death Investigation Team by phoning 101 or 0845 045 45 45 quoting Operation Baize. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000. From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call the police on 0845 045 45 45. Information can be given anonymously by phoning the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

A Bestival spokesperson said, "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families affected. We are assisting the police with their investigation."

Last weekend's Fantasy themed Bestival featured Dizzee Rascal and Hot Chip on Friday, The Flaming Lips and Roxy Music on Saturday, and The Prodigy on Sunday, plus Wailers, Wild Beats, Mumford & Sons, Chic, and more. eFestivals will have reviews and pictures of the festival online shortly.

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