A MAN died and another was seriously injured after a horror crash involving three vans on the A35 near Bridport.

Police said the 49-year-old driver of a white Iveco van died at the scene outside Woodlands Farm near Uploders about 6pm on Monday evening.

The dead man, from Cleveland, had been driving an Express Blinds van.

Another man, a 32-year-old from Bournemouth driving a white Ford Transit van signwritten Drain Doctor, suffered serious but not life threatening injuries. He was cut free from his cab by firefighters before being airlifted from the scene by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and taken to Southampton Hospital.

A third man, a 48-year-old from the Wareham area driving a silver Volkswagen Transporter, suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to hospital in Dorchester.

The collision happened past the old Travellers Rest, two miles east of Bridport, about 6pm.

There was major traffic disruption as the A35 between Bridport and the Monkeys Jump roundabout in Dorchester was closed for several hours to allow police, firefighters and paramedics to work safely at the scene. Heavy traffic was diverted miles around the area while lighter vehicles used the coast road.

One witness described the crash as ‘very serious’.

She said:“It looked very serious and the road was totally closed.”

A nearby resident said: “I heard a lot of sirens going off and I knew there must have been an accident.

“There was another van which was on its side, the roof had been cut off.

“A VW van also looked like it was involved, it had some minor damage.

“There was a lot of debris in the middle of the road.”

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We received a report of a three-vehicle road traffic collision on the A35 just outside Bridport, two miles on the Dorchester side.

“To allow emergency services to deal with the incident safely the A35 was closed between Monkeys Jump roundabout and Bridport to all heavy vehicles, diversions were in place.

“We are aware that this caused traffic delays and we appreciate the public’s cooperation and patience.”

The spokesman added: “Witnesses to the collision or the manner of drving of any of the vehicles prior to the collision should contact PC Rhys Griffiths of the traffic police at Wewymouth on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The road was reopened at just after 5am on this morning.