A woman who died following a crash on the A31 has been named locally.

Mum-of-three Nicola Price, 39, from Stockbridge, died from her injuries after a two car crash on Friday afternoon. 

Police say a Mitsubishi Mirage was travelling west when it collided with a Toyota MR2 that had stopped in the nearside lane.

Ms Price, who was driving the Toyota, was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital but later died.

The Mirage was being driven by a 62-year-old Ringwood woman who was also taken to hospital but was discharged after treatment.

It is not known if the Toyota had broken down or had stopped for some other reason.

Accident investigators will examine the vehicle for any mechanical faults that could have contributed to the tragedy.

Ms Price is the mum of Shannon, 20, Tyler, 14, and Logan, nine.

A post-mortem is likely to take place tomorrow, coroners in Hampshire have confirmed.

In 2008 the driver of a recovery vehicle was killed on the A31 at Poulner Hill, near Ringwood, after being called out to a broken down Peugeot 306. Terry Booth, 58, of Ferndown Road, Dorset, was in the process of recovering the vehicle when it was struck by a Chrysler Voyager.

Recalling the incident, Ringwood councillor Michael Thierry said: “The latest tragedy just emphasises how dangerous the A31 through the Forest is.

"I live within the earshot of local ambulance station and hear them going out. "My mind immediately goes to the A31 because of all the accidents that occur.

"The investigation into the latest crash will needed to examine all elements, including the reason why the car was stationary. That would appear to be a material factor.”

The latest collision took place on the westbound carriageway at Bratley Arch, near Stoney Cross, just before 3.30pm on Friday. As reported in the Daily Echo, the westbound carriageway of the A31 was closed for several hours resulting in long tailbacks that continued throughout the rush-hour.

The fatality is the latest in a spate of serious accidents at Bratley Arch. In July 2013 the westbound carriageway was closed between Stoney Cross and Picket Post after a Mercedes left the road, careered down an embankment and ended up on its roof.

In February last year a man was injured in a four-vehicle crash on the westbound carriageway.

Five months later drivers faced mile-long delays after an accident involving a pick-up truck that was towing a silver Mercedes.Anyone with information about the latest crash should contact Totton Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting Operation Guard.