Winterbourne Abbas residents react to A35 lorry crash
The A35 road from Bridport to Dorchester was closed for around 20 hours following the crash of two HGVs near Winterbourne Abbas on Wednesday evening.
It caused a huge diesel spill – damaging around 150 metres of road surface – which led to the closure of the A35 for urgent resurfacing until approximately 4.30pm the next day.
The road closure at Monkeys Jump Roundabout (Image: Newsquest)
One of the drivers suffered ‘life-changing injuries’.
A 45-year-old man from Exeter was arrested on suspicion of driving offences. He has been released under investigation.
This stretch of the A35 frequently closes because of crashes or flooding, particularly around Winterbourne Abbas, with some residents regarding the road as ‘very dangerous’.
A resident of Winterbourne Abbas whose sister had been a few cars behind the crash says she saw a larger lorry on its side, having pushed a smaller lorry off the road and into the hedge.
He said: “This road in general is very dangerous. There are so many crashes on this road, it is hard to keep up.”
A35 just outside of Winterbourne Abbas (Image: NQ)
A neighbour said: “There were four fire engines I could see, a couple of ambulances and more police going up and down than you could shake a stick at.
“I have lived here for seven years and there has never been a crash that has closed the road for that long so I assume it was a pretty horrific clean-up job at the least.
“There is a crash here every couple of months.”
A resident said: “Before I knew it all the cars and lorries were being turned back to Dorchester.
“Lots of highway vehicles, about 15 to 18 rapid response vehicles like fire engines, police and ambulance.”
Another resident who got caught up in the closure said: “They have been closing the road a lot. I assumed it had to do with the roadworks, then I got home and my misses said it was an accident.”
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240053005.
Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.
References
- ^ A35 closed as two lorry crash causes huge diesel spill (www.dorsetecho.co.uk)
- ^ Man arrested after A35 lorry crash near Winterbourne Abbas (www.dorsetecho.co.uk)