POLICE were today preparing to name the latest victim of Suffolk's roads – the 51st person to die in a road accident in the county this year.The grim death toll has already topped last year's total of 43, and is on course to be the highest since 1990, when 61 people lost their lives.

POLICE were today preparing to name the latest victim of Suffolk's roads – the 51st person to die in a road accident in the county this year.

The grim death toll has already topped last year's total of 43, and is on course to be the highest since 1990, when 61 people lost their lives.

Police, fire and ambulance crews raced to the scene of the crash, on the B1115 at Hitcham near Stowmarket, at around 3.50pm.

A red Mercedes car is thought to have left the road and crashed into a ditch, where it was found lying upside down. There were no other vehicles involved.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Although he has yet to be named, it is believed he was between 40 and 50-years-old.

The road was closed for around five hours and diversions were put in place while rescue teams began the lengthy task of removing the vehicle from the ditch.

Last night David Turner, clerk to Hitcham Parish Council, said: "It's come as quite a shock to the villagers - but then any fatal accident is shocking.

"The road itself is not particularly dangerous. We as a council are always concerned about speed, but I believe the accident happened outside the speed limit area.

"You have to be cautious on all county roads though - there's not much leeway for error."

Earlier in the day, an American serviceman was also killed in a head-on smash on the same stretch of road which claimed the lives of a mother and her three young children just 11 days ago.

Staff Sergeant Sean Bortel, 26, who was based at RAF Mildenhall, died at the scene of the crash on the A1101 at Shippea Hill, just across the border in Cambridgeshire.

The accident, which happened at around 6.35am, saw Mr Bortel's Rover 240 collide with a HGV near the Shippea Hill level crossing. The HGV driver suffered minor injuries.

The crash was just three miles from the area where 20-year-old Cortina Hamilton and her three young children died in an accident on September 26.

Any witnesses to the crash at Hitcham should call Sgt Colin Teager, of Suffolk Police, on 01473 613500.