Fatal collision on A3 prompts arrest and urgent police appeal
Police in Surrey have launched an investigation after a 19-year-old pedestrian died in a late-night collision on the A3 southbound in Guildford. Officers were called at about 23:15 BST on Friday near the junction with Wilderness Road. The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin have been informed.
Surrey Police said a 31-year-old man from Aylesbury has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. He remains in custody while enquiries continue. As part of the investigation, officers have located and seized a white DAF tanker lorry.
Witness vehicle sought as investigation continues
Detectives are appealing for information about a large white van believed to have been in the area at the time and which may have witnessed the incident. The force is also seeking dashcam footage from motorists who were travelling on the A3 on Friday night in the vicinity of Wilderness Road.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have dashcam footage is asked to contact Surrey Police.
The A3 is a critical trunk route linking London and the south coast and runs through Guildford, carrying significant volumes of traffic at all hours. While the precise sequence of events is still being pieced together, the location and timing of the collision underline the complexity of managing serious incidents on fast-moving sections of the network.
What we know so far
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Time and date | About 23:15 BST on Friday |
| Location | A3 southbound near the Wilderness Road junction, Guildford |
| Casualty | 19-year-old man (died at the scene) |
| Arrest | 31-year-old man from Aylesbury on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failing to stop |
| Vehicle seized | White DAF tanker lorry |
| Further appeal | Seeking a large white van believed to be a witness vehicle |
Impact on Guildford and next steps
Serious incidents on the A3 affect not only those directly involved but also the wider community, with potential disruption to journeys and emergency access around the Guildford and Godalming bypass. Inquiries of this kind typically involve collision reconstruction, detailed examination of vehicle movements and a review of roadside and private dashcam footage. Officers are working to establish how the collision unfolded and to identify all drivers and witnesses who can assist.
Local residents and road users who were in the area late on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday are being asked to consider whether they saw anything unusual or captured relevant footage. Even seemingly small details about vehicle movements near the Wilderness Road junction could prove important to investigators.
How residents can assist
- Review any dashcam
