TWO more drivers were killed in separate crashes on the roads of East Anglia – as the grim death toll continues to rise.The first crash happened on the A1101 at Shippea Hill in Cambridgeshire, just across the Suffolk border, at around 6.

TWO more drivers were killed in separate crashes on the roads of East Anglia – as the grim death toll continues to rise.

The first crash happened on the A1101 at Shippea Hill in Cambridgeshire, just across the Suffolk border, at around 6.35am yesterday.

Staff Sgt David Bortel, 26, a member of the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, died when his Rover 240 was involved in a head-on collision with a HGV.

The lorry driver, a 43-year-old man from Portugal, escaped with minor injuries from the crash, which happened near the Shippea Hill level crossing.

The accident was just three miles from the scene where Cortina Hamilton, 20, and her three young children died in a crash on the same stretch of road on September 26.

Suffolk County Councillor Mary Crane last night called for greater education for overseas drivers using the Fen roads.

She said: "I am very sorry to hear that there was another fatal accident on the same stretch of road. But whether it is in Suffolk or Cambridgeshire, it is the same problem and the same issue.

"We really must make absolutely sure the people who use our roads understand what the Fen roads are like. I think we need to make a concerted effort to educate our colleagues overseas."

Campaigner Kay Sallis, who lives close to the scene of last month's crash,

said: "Yesterday's accident is just one more reason why we need improvements to the road. Various people have various reasons for the number of accidents. But whatever the reason, something has to be done."

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesman added: "We take all accidents seriously, especially any fatal accidents such as this, and we will investigate thoroughly the reasons behind it.

"If there are any reasonable steps to take to prevent similar accidents, we will then try and do that."

Speaking prior to yesterday's accident, Captain Shane Balken said both RAF Mildenhall and nearby Lakenheath were planning a greater emphasis of driver safety as the winter months approached.

Later yesterday police, fire and ambulance crews were called to a 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. No other vehicles were 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 to allow the vehicle to be removed from the ditch.

The fatal crash brings the total of fatalities on Suffolk's roads this year to 51, and is the sixth in just 11 days.

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.

Councillor Julian Swainson, Suffolk County Council portfolio holder for sustainable environment, planning and transport, said he did not want to "rush into a reaction" in the wake of the fatal crash.

"I am concerned about every road accident. We actually do quite a lot to try and reduce the level of accidents in Suffolk - it's something we are very aware of," he said.

"If, as a result of the police investigation, our road engineers are made aware of any issues with the road that are within our control, we will take steps to remedy them."

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

Meanwhile, anyone with information about the Shippea Hill accident should contact Pc Pete Simpson at Cambridge Road Policing Unit on 01480 422684.