POLICE have appealed for witnesses following the death of three people in an horrific crash on the A3 at Hindhead on Saturday night.
James Bourke, 46, from Godalming, the driver of a red Rover 414, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two Afghan nationals Ahmed Shoeib Nabizadeh and Sayid Kamal Hofiani, both believed to be in their 20s, who were passengers in a green Renault Laguna, also died.
The driver of the Renault, Abdul Rahim Jamal, 29, from Afghanistan, whose address was given as Maidstone, Kent, was injured in the crash. He was taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital and discharged early the following morning when he was arrested and charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Mr Jamal was been bailed to appear at South West Surrey Magistrates' court on Tuesday. He and the two Afghans who died, are all legally entitled to be in the country.
The occupants of a silver Saxo involved in the pile-up, escaped uninjured.
Firefighters from Haslemere, Liphook, and Grayshott, plus special cutting equipment vehicle from Pains Hill, attended the scene.
Emergency services fought in the freezing conditions to free the three men trapped in the wreckage.
The accident occurred just after 8 pm opposite the Hazel Grove junction with the main Portsmouth to London A3 trunk road.
It occurred when the Renault, which was travelling towards Liphook, crossed the centre of the single-lane carriageway and was in collision with the Rover, which was travelling north towards Hindhead, and the Citroën.
Sub Officer John Mayle from Haslemere Fire and Rescue said the accident had caused "chaos" with cars caught up in long tailbacks until diversions were set up.
The road remained closed for seven hours. It was not opened to traffic until nearly 3-30 on Sunday morning.
Southbound traffic was diverted down Hammer Lane and northbound at the Hindhead traffic lights, along the A287 towards either Haslemere or Farnham.
Police have asked for any witnesses using that stretch of the road at the time of the accident to phone the collision investigation unit on 01932 569922.