A DORCHESTER man died after a two-car crash on the A35 earlier today. 

The road was closed for more than three and a half hours following the collision at 1.45pm just east of Morden Park Corner.

A grey Citroen Xsara Picasso registered to an address in West Dorset was in collision with a blue Volkswagen Tiguan registered to an address in Doncaster.

The driver of the Citroen, a 73-year-old from the Dorchester area, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The next of kin have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

His passenger, a 71-year-old woman also from the Dorchester area, sustained serious injuries.

Two people from the Volkswagen were injured, one seriously.

The coastguard helicopter attended the location and assisted the ambulance service with the transport of one of the injured people.

The road was closed for several hours between Morden Park Corner and the Bakers Arms to allow investigators to examine the scene and for the recovery of the vehicles to take place.

Police Sergeant Gareth Blaken, of the road policing team, said: “I am appealing for any witnesses who saw the collision or the manner of driving of this vehicle prior to the incident.

“We would like to thank everyone affected for their patience.”

The police closure caused very slow traffic westbound between the Bakers Arms Roundabout and the B3075 Chitten Hill junction.

Further traffic disruption was caused by a burst water main in Holton Heath.

There were long delays in both directions on the A351 between the Bakers Arms roundabout and the B3075 Morden Road junction.

Dorset County Council was notified at 12.20pm by Wessex Water to reports of water flowing onto Sandford Road causing a flooding issue.

Temporary traffic lights were put in while Wessex Water worked to repair the fault.

While the A35 reopened at 5.20pm, both incidents combined caused serious delays throughout the area.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to come forward following a fatal crash.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 30:191.