A community has been left in shock following the death of an elderly man killed in a “horrific accident" after his car veered into oncoming traffic.
The tragedy happened shortly after 3.30pm yesterday (November 26) when a white Dacia swerved onto the wrong side of the road along Lawn Avenue in Great Yarmouth.
Witnesses say the victim was approaching the traffic lights at Caister Road when he "suddenly veered" into the side of a black Audi A4 driving in the opposite direction.
He is then said to have had a head-on collision with the oncoming Essex and Suffolk Water truck.
Police confirmed that the man driving the Dacia, who was in his 80s, died at the scene.
Neighbours reported that one woman, who lived near to where the collision occurred, was performing CPR on the man before the emergency services arrived.
As the drama unfolded, residents rushed out of their homes to help in what was described as a "shocking" moment by locals.
Simon Jennings, who lives opposite, said: “It is just sad that somebody was driving home yesterday looking forward to Christmas with their family.
"Now - just like that - they cannot, all in a split second. It’s just horribly sad.”
Some neighbours said they had just got home from work or the school run when they heard a "loud bang".
“You don’t expect a fatal accident on your doorstep,” one neighbour said.
“It is a busy road and crashes are not uncommon, but something of this seriousness is just horrific.
“I feared the worst when I saw the state of the small white car. It was really messed up.
"There was an air ambulance, fire engines, police and people everywhere so I knew it was bad and not just an ordinary crash.”
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Another neighbour, who wanted to remain anonymous, suspected the driver had suffered from a medical episode.
He said: “I was pulling up to my driveway about to turn left towards town, when the car driving in the other way to where I was about to turn just turned into oncoming traffic.
“It was crazy to see so I can only assume he might have had some sort of medical episode.
"I just wish my condolences to the family of the man and am pleased nobody else was hurt."
Police did not reopen the road until 10pm and many neighbours returning home from work were unable to park in their driveways.
The occupants of the other vehicles did not require hospital treatment.
- Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or have relevant dashcam footage should contact Norfolk Police quoting reference NC-26112024-265.
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