A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries after a crash at West Parley yesterday that saw the road closed for several hours.

Police and paramedics were called to Christchurch Road just before 6pm following a collision between the motorbike and a van by the junction with Church Lane

The motorcyclist, a 59-year-old man from the Bournemouth area, was flown by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital after suffering a serious leg injury.

His pillion passenger, a 36-year-old Bournemouth woman, was also taken to hospital but with non-serious injuries.

The driver of the van was uninjured following the collision. 

The incident involved a black Yamaha motorcycle and a red Volkswagen Transporter van and saw the road closed for several hours between Parley Cross and the Chapel Gate roundabout. 

Both vehicles were later recovered.

Officers have praised the members of the public who went to assist the injured motorcyclist.

Sergeant Fern Graham, of the traffic unit, said: “I commend the action of all those people who stopped to help and would like to publicly thank them.

“While the injured man has suffered serious life changing injuries, if it was not for their brave intervention the outcome could have been even more tragic.

“I would also like to thank members of the public for their patience while the scene was examined.”

Officers are also appealing for anyone witnesses to the collision, or anyone who witnessed either vehicle in the area prior to the collision, to contact police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 13:380.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.