Two-car crash blocks Willington Street in Maidstone
19:42, 17 December 2023
updated: 13:23, 19 December 2023
A two-car crash that caused severe delays for two hours this afternoon is the second to happen along the same road this week.
Willington Street in Maidstone was blocked in both directions from midday until shortly after 2pm following a collision near Woolley Road.
Don Wright, who lives along the road says he was washing his car when he heard a “loud bang”.
He said: “I looked up and saw two cars in a mess.
“Both cars were in a real bad state and one is still sitting at the side of the road now.
“Police arrived first, then the fire brigade but an ambulance didn’t show for an hour.
“I don’t know exactly what happened.
“The road reopened at around 2.20pm but lorries were piled up as they were unable to get through or do a U-turn.”
A fire service spokeswoman confirmed no one was trapped as a result of the crash.
She said: “There was an incident involving two cars on Willington Street.
“No persons were trapped but care was left with SECAmb and Kent Police.
“Crews assisted in making sure the scene was safe.”
This is the second crash to happen along the street this week.
On Thursday, there were also delays after a car hit a lamppost.
Motorists faced tailbacks shortly before 10am following the incident, and no injuries were reported.
Mr Wright added: “Crashes aren’t a common occurrence down this road but I have been pursuing Kent County Council to mark the road as 30mph for some time now.
“It is 30mph but there are no signs that say so.”
A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson confirmed that a road that has street lighting, like Willington Street, automatically has a speed limit of 30mph.
He said: “This is why there are no signs along Willington Street and why KCC is prohibited from installing repeater signs.
“We are working with Downswood Parish Council and have completed a speed survey of Willington Street at their request, which showed the average speeds are consistent with a 30mph limit.”
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