Woman (89) dies in collision with truck in town centre

PART of New Milton high street was closed after a collision on the road between an 89-year-old woman and a building merchant’s lorry.

The route south of the Ashley Road / Station Road crossroads was shut as police, paramedics and firefighters dealt with the situation.

The vehicle, a Travis Perkins lorry, was screened off and there were more than half a dozen emergency service vehicles in attendance.

The company said in a statement: "We have been made aware of an incident in New Milton that involved one of our lorries and tragically resulted in the death of a woman.

"Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.

"Emergency services were immediately called, and an investigation is now underway."

Crowds of shocked onlookers gathered on the pavements near the incident, which occurred at about 1pm on the corner outside the Boots store.

Immediately afterwards, members of the public blocked off the road and others came running with sheets and pieces of card to screen the aftermath.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said later: "We were called at 1.11pm after a collision involving a HGV and a pedestrian on Station Road, New Milton.

"An 89-year-old woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and her next of kin are being supported by specialist officers.”

An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, told the A&T she saw the slow-speed collision between the woman and the crane-equipped delivery lorry.

“She was about in her 80s, maybe a bit more. She had one of those wheel-walkers you do your shopping with,” she said.

“It happened so fast. There was nothing anybody could do about it.

“There were a few other people waiting to cross and people going by who wondered what had happened. The girls came out from the hairdresser’s and the first thing I said to them was, ‘Do not look’.

“I think we all knew there was nothing to rush in for. I think anyone who saw it knew there was nothing we could do.

“She went out to do her shopping and she’s ended up on the road.”

The first on the scene was a paramedic who happened to be at the hairdresser’s, she said, before the emergency services arrived in force.

No other vehicles were involved, the A&T understands. The road remained closed into the evening.

Charles Nobel jewellers on the other side of the road posted on Facebook that they would be shut for the rest of the day.

It said: “Due to a tragic accident at the lights in New Milton we will be closed for the rest of today.

“Access to the shop has been closed off while the emergency services carry out their work.

“We would like to extend our thoughts and sympathies to those affected by the accident.”