MAJOR concerns have been raised about a “horrendous” road, following a head-on crash which left a woman with serious injuries.

Calls are being made for changes to the A35 at Roeshot Hill in Christchurch in the wake of the horrific smash involving three vehicles on Tuesday.

Dorset Police say early indications are that the actions of one of the drivers involved caused a second car to cross into the oncoming lane, where the collision took place. No arrests have been made.

Now, local councillors have renewed calls for action, saying they have serious concerns about the road’s safety.

Trish Jamieson, West Highcliffe ward councillor said she had campaigned several years ago for a 40mph speed limit on that stretch of the road after a previous fatality.

“We were told at the time it wasn’t feasible because it was on the border with Hampshire and could not be enforced.

“Some people drive hell for leather up that road. We hear it from our home, especially at night. It’s horrendous and this seems to have been a particularly nasty crash.

“I will call for a fresh investigation into the speed limit situation and try again for 40mph.”

Cllr Nick Geary, lead member for transportation at Christchurch Council said: “I am very concerned about it.

“When we had the highways agency at Christchurch, this was an issue then.

“My idea was to reduce the carriageway to single lanes, with double yellows in the middle to ensure no overtaking.

“In my view, that’s what Dorset County Council, who are now the highways agency, should be doing.

“It is this stretch, from the bottom of the hill, to the top, which is the most dangerous.”

County councillor Lesley Dedman said she would support colleagues in working for a lower speed limit.

She said: “I feel so sad for the victim, it was a horrific accident and I hope she makes a full recovery. My heart goes out to her family. Thank goodness for our brilliant emergency services.”

Cllr Dedman said she’ll be fighting to get the speed limit reduced, or to have the speed limit set at 40mph all the way along the stretch.

The accident happened close to where the A35 merges from two to one single lane up the hill.

Cllr Dedman added: “It is 40mph until you get to this particular stretch, and it is 40mph after this dual carriageway stretch. This little stretch, which is very short, is at the national speed limit.

“This stretch causes people to speed up, and it can be lethal.”

The 41-year-old female driver, who is from Christchurch, suffered serious multiple, but not life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.

The woman had been driving a blue Renault Megane which was involved in a collision with a silver Lexus convertible registered to a 45-year-old man from Highcliffe.

The Lexus driver was not seriously hurt and taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for treatment.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Early indications are that the Lexus car, driven by a local man, was travelling east up the hill, when the actions of another vehicle - a Hyundai car also driven by a local male - caused the Lexus to enter the westbound lane, where it collided head-on with the Renault Megane.”

The woman was trapped inside the wreckage of her car for more than an hour-and-a-half before being removed by emergency services.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 7335:7.