A DAD of 48 became the third person to die in the past six weeks on a Gwent road branded dangerous by local people.

Vivian Colin Ruff died after the red Hyundai Coupe he was driving left the A4048 near Rock Villas, Argoed, crashed through railings and flipped over before coming to rest on its side.

Mr Ruff, who lived in Nantyglo, had been travelling with a 16-year-old passenger when the crash happened at 10.25pm on Thursday.

She was taken to Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital as a precaution and released a short time later.

Argoed resident Adam Chamberlain, 23, of New Road, said: "I heard a bang, jumped up and looked out the window and came outside. I heard people screaming for help."

A 24-year-old man driving a red BMW was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Floral tributes were left at the scene yesterday, and last night, Mr Ruff's work colleagues paid tribute to him.

David John Toner-Evans, 59, who worked with Mr Ruff at R.J Davies Roadside Rescue in Pontypridd for ten years, said: "He was everybody's mate - he was as good as gold."

Owner of the garage John Davies said: "He'll be missed not only as a friend, but as a colleague. Viv and me worked side by side for 18 years, he was universally liked and a bit of a character - once you met him, you never forgot him."

Mr Ruff's death comes after the death of two teenagers a mile away on the same Tredegar to Blackwood stretch near Rock Villas on September 4.

Geraint Lewis Morris, 18, from Hengoed, and Gareth Phelps, 17, from Gelligaer, died when their car was in a collision with a lorry.

It is not known whether speed was a factor in either of the crashes, but local people in Argoed have been campaigning for chicanes, a reduction in the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph and speed cameras on the road since the death of Wayne Davies, 18, of Aberbargoed, in a crash at the site in July 2001.

Caerphilly council has said that it feels the speed limit is appropriate for the area, but after the September crash, was monitoring the outcome of the police investigation.

Inspector Lee Ford said: "We are conducting a full and thorough investigation into this collision and would like to hear from anybody who witnessed the collision or who saw the two red cars in the Blackwood area on Thursday evening".

Anyone with information about the crash, or who may have seen a red Hyundai Coupe or red BMW in the Blackwood area, or driving north on the A4048 can contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or the Collision Investigation Unit on 01633 643091.