A 39-year-old man from Maidenhead was arrested after a flatbed van crashed into the front of the Horse & Groom Harvester in Polegate late on Wednesday night, 28 January 2026.
Incident Details
- Time & Location: Emergency services were called to the scene on High Street, Polegate
, around 11:30 pm following reports of the collision. - Damage: The vehicle, described as a highway maintenance-style van, caused substantial damage to the building's exterior and several outdoor benches.
- Injuries: The driver, who was the only person in the van, sustained minor injuries. No injuries were reported inside the pub, which had recently undergone a refurbishment in December.
Legal & Arrest Status
Sussex Police arrested the driver on suspicion of the following offences:
- Driving while unfit through drink.
- Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test.
- Assaulting an emergency worker.
The suspect remains in police custody as of Thursday afternoon. Despite the damage, the Harvester Horse and Groom confirmed in a social media post that it intended to open as usual on Thursday.
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