A WOMAN died and her husband was left "bruised and battered" after a head-on collision ten miles from their home.
Denise Osborne, 67, of Old Road in Buckland, was driving a Mini Cooper when the fatal crash took place.
Her car was in collision with a Vauxhall Vivaro van on the A281 Guildford Road at Bucks Green near Horsham
It happened just after noon on Monday last week.
Mr Osborne, 75, a front seat passenger in the Mini, suffered serious injuries in the crash and was trapped in the wreckage.
He was flown by Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance to St George's Hospital in Tooting but has subsequently been allowed home.
Friends and neighbours have been left shocked and saddened by the incident.
One neighbour described Mrs Osborne as "a lovely lady with many friends".
She added: "Many people in the village have heard what happened. It's awful, especially at this time of the year."
Mr Osborne said he felt "bruised and battered" after the incident.
Meanwhile a ceramic pot containing a spray of red roses was placed outside the couple's cottage on Monday morning.
Two fire engines from Horsham and one from Crawley attended the crash scene.
They had to cut Mr Osborne free from the debris using specialist hydraulic equipment.
A 17-year-old, said by police to be from the Surrey area, who was driving the van suffered minor injuries. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released on bail until February 11.
Sergeant Rob Baldwin, from the Road Traffic Policing Unit based at Arundel in West Sussex, told the Mirror: "We need to speak to anyone who saw the collision or who noticed either vehicle being driven shortly before it occurred."
Anyone who can help should e-mail collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or phone 101.