Two seriously hurt in five-vehicle pile-up with sewage tanker

POLICE are investigating after a tanker driver suffered “potentially life-changing” injuries in a five-vehicle crash which closed Matchams Lane at Hurn for eight hours.

The incident took place between Raceway and Snowtrax around 2.20pm last Friday and involved the tanker, which was carrying human waste, a blue Mercedes, a black Mercedes, a red Toyota Yaris and a Yamaha motorbike.

Firefighters from Dorset and Hampshire responded to reports two out of the six people involved in the incident were trapped inside their vehicles. The other four were reported to have been uninjured.

The crews cut free the tanker driver, a 52-year-old man from Poole, and the driver of the blue Mercedes, a 34-year-old Eastleigh man, before handing them over to paramedics.

Taken to Southampton General Hospital with serious leg injuries, the tanker driver’s condition was described by a Hampshire police spokesperson as “potentially life-changing”.

The Mercedes driver suffered serious injuries to his spine and leg, and was taken to Poole General Hospital.

Officers closed the road in both directions between Matchams and the Avon Causeway while emergency crews worked at the scene. It reopened at around 10.30pm.

Motorists were urged to avoid the area while the closure was in place.

Police are those with any information about the accident to come forward.

Sgt Phil Lee, of the traffic unit, said: “I would appeal to anyone who was travelling along the road at the relevant time and either witnessed the collision or saw any of the vehicles being driven immediately prior to the incident to please contact Dorset Police.

“I would also ask anyone with relevant dash cam footage to please get in touch.”

Those with information about the collision should contact officers on 101, quoting incident reference number 24:233, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.