AN ‘EXPERIENCED’ Bournemouth motorcyclist has died after a two-vehicle crash in North Dorset.

The fatal incident took place on the A350 near Blandford St Mary at 1.45pm on Friday lunchtime.

The 65-year-old man, who has still not been named, was initially treated at the scene following the collision involving a car on the busy single carriageway between Charlton Marshall and Blandford St Mary.

But despite being airlifted to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, the motorcyclist, who was riding a black Kawasaki motorcycle, was pronounced dead on arrival.

His next of kin have been informed.

Yesterday afternoon, a bouquet was laid at the scene.

A message, ‘Rest In Peace Derek, you will be missed by all’, accompanied the flowers.

The man, who has not yet been formally identified, was believed to be a skilled motorcyclist with more than 45 years’ experience of riding motorcycles.

A tribute posted on the Daily Echo website said he was a ‘capable, steady and highly experienced rider’ who had experience riding ‘all types of bikes in all sorts of weather and road conditions’.

The post from ‘John Hee’ said: “He is well known on the bike scene both locally and across the UK. His friendship will be missed by many. Condolences to his family.”

He also said the 65-year-old understood the risks involved with riding motorcycles and ‘like many of his friends, chose to ride because of what it meant to him’.

Although details of this incident have yet to be revealed, residents who live near to the A350 said generally the road is known for being a fast stretch of carriageway.

Laura Mackenzie, 20, who lives just metres from the crash site, said the incident had already taken place when she arrived home around 3.30pm on Friday.

“My dad saw the paramedics resuscitating the man on the side of the road. That must have been about 2.30pm,” she said.

“Then the air ambulance arrived and took him to hospital.

“There weren’t any police officers at the start of the road cordon when I got back.

“My mum rang me and told me about it but because the accident had happened beyond our house I was allowed to come through.

“It was closed until around 9pm. I know because the police parked their vehicles in the driveway.

“We knew it was bad from the amount of time they had been here.”

She added: “It’s a really fast road. My family have lived here for six or seven years now and we said it was a matter of time before a serious accident happened.

“It’s sad for the man’s family.”

Tracey Hopkins, who lives in Charlton Marshall, agreed the speeds on the road appeared to surpass the speed limit of 40mph.

“We live by the 30mph sign just past the garage at Charlton Marshall and it is amazing the speed people go on bikes and in cars. They come so fast around the corner. It’s awful to hear someone has died, absolutely terrible.”

A 22-year-old Wimborne man, who was behind the wheel of a black Peugeot 207 involved in the accident, was arrested and released on police bail until the beginning of April.

The road was closed for several hours on Friday to allow forensic investigators to examine the scene.

Black plastic debris remained at the side of the road with sand indicating the site of  the collision.

Witnesses are asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 with any information quoting incident number 22-227.