THERE was gridlock across the Bournemouth conurbation today after a number of serious crashes.

The morning rush hour was severely affected after a collision at Parley Lane in Hurn, followed by two crashes at Castle Lane in Bournemouth – one involving a 17-year-old girl. 

At 7am, police closed Parley Lane both ways after a black Volkswagen Golf and a silver Vauxhall Vectra became involved in a crash between the Avon Causeway and Chapel Gate.

Motorists were unable to access Parley Lane from Hurn Roundabout, or continue through to Hurn onto the A338 Spur Road, and traffic was very slow as a result. A diversion via Hurn Court Lane was put in place.

Those travelling to Bournemouth Airport were only able to access the airport from the Parley Cross crossroads. 

Police, fire and ambulance crews were all in attendance. Firefighters had to remove the roof of one of the cars to release a trapped woman. He was taken to Southampton General Hospital with serious head injuries.

A woman was also rescued from the crash scene and was taken to Poole Hospital with minor injuries.

Then, at around 7.40am, police closed Castle Lane West eastbound between Ibbertson Road and the Cooper Dean Roundabout after a crash near the Harvester.

A 17-year-old female pedestrian, a male pedestrian, whose age is unknown, and a highway maintenance van registered to North Yorkshire were involved.

Both casualties were conscious and breathing, according to a spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service. However, the girl was taken to Poole Hospital with a head injury and the man was taken to Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Bournemouth Echo:

A Bournemouth mum, who did not wish to be named, said her daughter had witnessed the crash as she walked to school.

She said: “She saw the poor girl in the accident and it has really upset her. I am on my way to her school to see her because she is feeling unwell and she has an exam today. I hope the girl in the accident is going to be OK.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Twenty minutes after the crash, a car and a bicycle collided on Castle Lane West.

The cyclist, a 35-year-old man, was treated for head and shoulder injuries.
There was congestion along Castle Lane East, with delays of up to 20 minutes from the hospital to Cooper Dean as a result of both crashes.

Schoolchildren in the area were late arriving to school due to the tailbacks.
Some pupils were due to sit GCSE examinations.

Head teacher of Bournemouth School for Girls Alistair Brien said some pupils were taking a maths exam this morning.

However, he said the school had made the "necessary arrangements" so they could sit the exam.

Bournemouth School pupils did not have exams until this afternoon, but a number of pupils were delayed going on various school trips to London and Monkey World, with coaches stuck waiting at the school until the road cleared.

Those travelling northbound on the A338 Spur Road at around 7.30am were delayed by a crash between two cars near Blackwater Junction – the same day traffic cones creating the merging lane at the junction were removed and both lanes re-opened.

Nobody was injured in the crash, which involved a blue Skoda Octavia and a blue Chrysler Grand Voyager.

Elsewhere in Dorset yesterday morning, there was a crash near Blandford involving a motorcyclist and a car.

Wimborne Road was closed between Ashley Wood Golf Club and The True Lovers Knot after the crash outside Ashley Wood Recovery at 7.35am.

A Great Western Air Ambulance from Bristol was called to the scene and took the motorcyclist, a 40-year-old man, with a serious head injury and a fractured wrist to Southampton General Hospital.

The Toyota driver, an 80-year-old man, did not sustain any apparent injuries, according to PC Mark Palmer of Dorset Police's Traffic Unit.

"If anyone witnessed the crash, please call me on 101," he added.

A fire crew was sent to make the scene safe but did not need to take any further action. 

The road re-opened at around 9.30am.