Icy conditions bring roads to standstill (From Bournemouth Echo)

Icy conditions bring roads to standstill

7:00am Wednesday 7th January 2009 in

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THE chill took its hold yesterday as icy conditions caused havoc on Dorset’s roads.

Some of the area’s busiest routes were brought to a standstill as vehicles overturned blocking roads.

A red LDV van, registered to a Wimborne company, ended up on its roof on the Darbys Corner roundabout just after 9.30am, blocking Gravel Hill.

The driver escaped uninjured from the accident but traffic using Gravel Hill had to be diverted to Bear Cross roundabout.

The A35 at Bere Regis was also forced to close after two accidents in quick succession just before 9am.

A black Vauxhall Astra and a white Citroen van collided just before the Bere Regis roundabout, not long after a three-vehicle accident just past Woodbury Cross.

The multi-vehicle pile-up left a silver Renault Megane upside down, and the drivers of a red Peugeot and a silver Peugeot were both treated at Dorset County Hospital for slight injuries. A young woman from Bournemouth escaped uninjured when her Ford KA skidded on ice, overturned and ended up on its roof in Matchams Lane on Monday evening.

The accident happened just before 7pm, 200 metres from the Matchams View car park.

The shaken driver climbed from her vehicle and was given a lift by passers-by to their home at Avon Castle.

Ambulance staff checked her over there and police officers transported her back to her car from where her parents picked her up and took her home to Bournemouth.

Her car was recovered yesterday morning.

A BMW driver from Christchurch lost control of his car on ice near Bournemouth Airport at 6.23am yesterday.

The car hit a telegraph pole bringing down cables. The driver was uninjured and his vehicle was towed away at 6.54am.

Forecasters say temperatures were set to plummet to a chilly –6C overnight and reach just 3C today.

A Dorset Police spokesman reminded motorists to take care on the roads.

“We would urge motorists to take care on the roads, drive proportionately for the road conditions and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front.

“Please allow extra time for your journey, don’t be rushing. It is better to get there safely than not at all.”