ISLAND POLICE have arrested the driver of high-powered Ford Focus that crashed into a tree causing traffic chaos.
The driver lost control on the bend on Backwater Hollow just after 1am on Thursday (September 30).
It is believed that a Ford Focus ST was traveling towards Shanklin when it left the road to the offside on a left-hand bend, hit a tree and spun 180 degrees before coming to rest on the verge with the tree on top of it.
The driver was arrested at St Mary’s Hospital on suspicion of drink driving.
A second man, a 30 year old from Ventnor who was a passenger in the vehicle, has been transferred to the neurology unit at Southampton General Hospital where his condition remains critical.
The road was closed for over 9 hours whilst police specialists gathered evidence into how and why the car crashed.
Officers from the Roads Policing unit are appealing for witnesses and are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the Ford focus vehicle prior to the incident to come forward.
The arrested man has been released on bail to report back to Newport Police at the end of November.
Anyone with information can contact PC Bob Hammersley at the Shanklin Roads Policing Unit, quoting Operation Cendal on 101 or 08450 454 545.
