COMMUNITIES in Lowestoft, Southwold and Yarmouth were united in grief this week after two people tragically died in two separate accidents.John Newberry, 61, from Lowestoft, suffered fatal injuries on Tuesday following a collision in the town between the Kawasaki motorcycle he was riding and a black Ford Focus.

COMMUNITIES in Lowestoft, Southwold and Yarmouth were united in grief this week after two people tragically died in two separate accidents.

John Newberry, 61, from Lowestoft, suffered fatal injuries on Tuesday following a collision in the town between the Kawasaki motorcycle he was riding and a black Ford Focus.

And just 24 hours later, a 64-year-old woman from the Yarmouth area died after she was struck by a car in Southwold.

Yesterday the people of Southwold were still coming to terms with the 'tragic' events, which had sent shockwaves reverberating round the quiet seaside town.

The woman who died following the collision in the Godyll Road/Lorne Road area was struck by a black Chrysler PT car driven by her husband.

And despite efforts by paramedics and locals to resuscitate her, the woman died at the scene at about 11.30am.

Her husband was taken to the James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston, for treatment to a head injury and shock. Yesterday, he remained in hospital, with the identities of the married couple involved in the bizarre accident unknown.

A Suffolk police spokesman said officers were called to the scene by paramedics.

'On arrival, emergency services found an older lady unconscious in the road,' the spokesman said. 'The woman died at the scene a short time later. The car also collided with other parked vehicles and a wall.'

The road near Southwold Common was closed for several hours as traffic police carried out investigations into the crash.

And yesterday, locals were still coming to terms with the tragic events of Wednesday.

June Hibbett, of Park Lane, said: 'I could not believe it when I heard about it. Nothing ever normally happens like that here.

'It's just tragic. People normally come and go as The Common is opposite, but it's usually very, very quiet.'

Shirley Oldman, of Lorne Road, was on her way to Southwold Golf Club just minutes after the tragedy had occurred.

'I was off down the golf club and it was such a shock to come to my front door and see all this hurly-burly,' she said. 'Everyone at the golf club was stunned as they had seen the helicopter, heard the ambulances and wondered what was happening.

'They were absolutely stunned with this dreadful thing - it's such a tragedy.'

These sentiments were echoed by a fellow resident in Lorne Road, who wished to remain anonymous, but expressed 'surprise' at the tragic events.

'It's a place where very little happens, so to see a helicopter land nearby was a bit of a surprise,' she said.

Similar scenes had been witnessed in Lowestoft on Tuesday as the emergency services were called to the collision in Rotterdam Road.

Police, an ambulance crew and the East Anglian Air ambulance were called to the scene, close to the Lake Lothing pub, at around 10.45am.

But despite being taken to the James Paget for treatment, Mr Newberry died on Tuesday afternoon.

The road was closed while initial investigations at the scene were carried out, and it was eventually re-opened around 3.40pm.

Police are seeking witnesses to the accidents and are asking anyone who may have seen either crash to call the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 01473 613500.