Homes near Sutton Road in Seaford were evacuated early on Sunday after a car crashed into a shopfront and caught fire, causing significant damage to the building. Sussex Police said there were no reported injuries, but officers are now trying to trace the driver and establish what happened.
Seaford shopfront crash: what has been confirmed
Emergency services were called to Sutton Road at about 2.20am on Sunday, 20 September 2026. According to the official Sussex Police appeal, a Suzuki Ignis struck the shopfront before catching fire.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze. Nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution while emergency crews dealt with the incident. Police described the damage to the building as significant and confirmed that no injuries had been reported.
The force has not yet said what caused the collision, how many properties were evacuated or whether the driver was injured. Those details remain unconfirmed while the investigation continues.
Police seek the driver, witnesses and camera footage
Officers are working to trace the driver of the Suzuki and have asked anyone who saw the incident, or noticed suspicious activity in the area, to come forward.
Police are particularly interested in CCTV, doorbell, mobile-phone or dashcam footage that may show Sutton Road or nearby streets before, during or after the collision. Even short recordings could help investigators establish the car’s movements and identify who was driving.
Information can be submitted through the Sussex Police online reporting link, or by calling 101 and quoting serial 149 of 20/09.
What local residents need to know
The confirmed public information at the time of publication is that the fire has been extinguished, there are no reported injuries and the police investigation is ongoing. No official update has yet confirmed how long repairs or any local access restrictions may take.
Brighton Locals will update this report if Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service or the local authority publishes further confirmed information. For more verified updates from across the area, visit our Brighton and Sussex news section.
Featured image is an illustrative stock photograph and does not show the Seaford incident. Photo by Krzysztof Hepner on Unsplash.
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