A FAMILY have told of their "heartbreak and sadness" as they pay tribute to the man who died in a crash on the A35 Puddletown bypass.

David Grant-Jones, 49, from Weymouth, has been named as the driver who died in the crash on Saturday.

His wife, 59-year-old Heather who was travelling in the front passenger seat of a Land Rover Freelander, sustained serious injuries and was flown by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

Mr Grant-Jones’ family said in a tribute: “It is with complete heartbreak and sadness that our family have to announce the very sudden and tragic loss of Dave Grant-Jones.

“He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle and was loved by all that knew him.

“We would like to ask at this time that people respect the privacy of our family while we try to come to terms with this shocking news.”

Dorset Police were called at 4.40pm on Saturday, July 14 to reports of a three vehicle collision on the westbound lane of the A35 Dorchester bypass near Bere Regis, just before the single carriageway becomes a dual carriageway.

See our original story of the crash here 

The collision involved a white BMW, a white Land Rover Freelander and a silver Mercedes.

Mr Grant-Jones. the driver of the Freelander sustained serious injuries and sadly died at the scene.

The driver of the BMW – a 27-year-old man from Bournemouth – sustained serious injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment. A 39-year-old Bournemouth man who was travelling in the BMW sustained a life-threatening head injury and was flown by air ambulance to Southmead Hospital in Bristol. A second passenger – a 26-year-old man – sustained serious injuries and was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment.

No one from the silver Mercedes was injured.

A 38-year-old man arrested for causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

Sergeant Fern Graham, of the traffic unit, said: “Our investigation into this collision remains ongoing and I would ask anyone who witnessed the collision and has yet to speak to officers to please come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 14:366. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.