Woman dies after her car careers off A31 near Stoney Cross

A MOTORIST died after the car in which she was travelling careered off the A31 near Burley last Friday evening.

The incident took place around 6.15pm as the victim, a 57-year-old Southampton woman, drove a maroon coloured Citroen Xsara Picasso along the westbound carriageway from Stoney Cross.

Having left the road, the car ended up on its side in a ditch, and firefighters had to be called out to cut the casualty free. She was released, along with a dog, by crews from Ringwood, Redbridge and Ferndown.

Paramedics responded, together with South Central Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team. The woman was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital in what was described as “a life threatening condition”, and she died later that evening.

A Hampshire Police spokesperson said her next of kin had been informed and was being supported by specialist officers.

Her identity had not been revealed by the time this week’s edition of the A&T went to press on Thursday morning.

An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

PC Andy Christopher from the Totton roads policing unit said: “We know that the collision happened at a busy time of day on the A31.

“The car was travelling westbound and had just passed Stoney Cross.

“If you were in the area around that time and saw the collision, or if you think you saw the car prior to the incident, we’d like to hear from you.”

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire Police on 101, quoting incident reference number 44190013278.

Police have also named an elderly motorist who died following a head-on collision near Ringwood two weeks ago has been named as Rosemary Queree.

The 78-year-old Southampton woman had been driving a white Volvo V60 when it was involved in a smash with a blue Citroen C4 on Horton Road, by the Ashley Heath roundabout, around 3pm on Saturday 5th January.

Paramedics treated her at the scene before she was taken by ambulance to Southampton General Hospital where she died later that day.

An inquest opened and adjourned at Bournemouth Coroner’s Court on Wednesday heard a post-mortem examination established the cause of death was multiple injuries.

A full hearing into Mrs Queree’s death is due to be held at the same court on 26th August.