New Year's Day tragedy as teen 18, dies and three injured in three-car pile up

01 January 2024 , 22:54

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Police said an 18-year-old man from Cornwall died in the crash on the A35 (stock image) (Image: Getty)

A teenager has died after a tragic crash on New Year's Day, police have said.

Emergency services flocked to the A35 near Kingston Russell in West Dorset shortly after 1.30pm on January 1 after a collision involving three vehicles. The passenger of a black Toyota Aygo, an 18-year-old man from Cornwall, died at the scene.

Dorset Police said his family have been informed. Three other people were also taken to hospital with injuries which are not thought to be life threatening.

Two other vehicles were involved in the crash - a silver Kia Sorento and a black BMW. One resident told local media he saw around 19 emergency services people at the scene following the crash, and the A35 remained closed in both directions near Winterbourne Abbas on Monday evening while investigation work is carried out.

Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses and have asked anyone dashcam footage of the fatal crash to get in touch. Sergeant Gareth Thomas, from Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who sadly died in this incident. An investigation is underway to establish what happened and I am keen to hear from any witnesses to the collision, or the manner of driving of the vehicles involved prior to it, who have not already spoken to police. Also, I would like to speak to any motorists who were travelling in the vicinity and may have captured anything of relevance on dashcam footage. Finally, I would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding during the road closures.”

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Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240000247. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.

Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas