Crash which closed Spur Road will not be referred to IPCC

Both of the collisions occurred on the same stretch of road within minutes of each other, leading to the road being closed northbound between Blackwater Junction and the A31 at Ashley Heath.

The first incident was reported to police at 7.14pm.

A grey Renault Clio car, registered to a local owner, crashed into the central reservation, near to the Matchams slip road. No injuries were sustained.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said as the vehicle was partially obstructing the highway, officers were called to implement lane closures for the safety of other road users.

Just minutes later, at 7.29pm, another collision took place when a blue Nissan Almera collided with police warning signs and then a stationary police vehicle.

The male driver, who was unconscious at the scene, was taken to Poole Hospital for assessment but is not thought to have sustained any serious injuries.

Despite investigations that led to the major road being closed for much of the night, it was yesterday confirmed that the collisions would not be referred to the IPCC.

A spokesperson said: "This incident does not meet the criteria needed for a referral."

The IPCC oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales and sets the standards by which the police should handle complaints.

It is not part of the police.

One report said the Renault Clio was forced to swerve out of the path of a van joining from the sliproad before losing control and striking the central reservation.

It is believed that the second collision took place after police warning signs were put in place to warn oncoming motorists of the first crash.

A police officer is believed to have been "narrowly missed" as a result of the second collision.

Witnesses are asked to contact Dorset Police with information on 101, quoting incident number 7:367.