A DRIVER escaped with cuts after his vehicle overturned and was wrecked on a Wessex Way slip road last night.

Officers from Dorset Police’s traffic unit were called at 10.08pm to a single vehicle collision on the northbound off slip to the A338 Wessex Way in Bournemouth late on Thursday, June 23.

Upon arriving at the scene, they found an overturned car and a driver who had managed to free himself from the wreck with only scratches sustained.

Officers closed the road, notified Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service and began their enquiries.

One fire service crew from Christchurch attended the incident and assisted with scene safety and clearing a large fuel spill, before leaving shortly after 10.41pm.

Bournemouth Echo: Driver arrested after car overturned on Wessex Way. Picture: Dorset Traffic CopsDriver arrested after car overturned on Wessex Way. Picture: Dorset Traffic Cops

The driver passed a breath test when police officers first spoke to him, however they decided to also undertake a drug wipe after being alerted by “something in his eyes”.

The test later returned a positive result for the presence of cocaine and the driver was subsequently arrested before being taken to the A&E department at Royal Bournemouth Hospital where further samples for testing were obtained from him.

A Dorset Traffic Cops spokesperson said: “Drugs are not just for whenever you choose to take them – their effects last far longer and they live in your body well after consumption. While we can't say with certainty they caused this incident, their presence at any time when you’re behind the wheel will not be helpful.”

The road was reopened at around 12.30am on Friday morning and enquiries are ongoing.