A 39-YEAR-OLD Dorchester man has died after his motorbike was in a head-on smash with a car on the Weymouth Relief Road.

The collision, which is the first fatal crash on the road, took place just before 10pm on Friday. A spokesman for Dorset Police said the biker was riding towards Dorchester from Weymouth when his blue Kawasaki motorbike collided with a Renault Scenic occupied by a Weymouth couple.

He added that the biker sustained ‘fatal injuries’ and died at the scene.

The 52-year-old Renault driver and his 50-year-old wife, who was in the front passenger seat, sustained serious injuries.

They were released from their car by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and taken to Dorset County Hospital .

The A354 Weymouth Relief Road was closed for more than five hours while Dorset Police did a detailed examination of the scene. It reop-ened at 3.12am on Saturday.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said that the head-on collision took place as the car went down Ridgeway Hill.

He said: “The resultant impact caused the rider to sustain fatal injuries and he died at the scene.”

One motorist, who did not wish to be named, came over the Ridgeway Hill 20 minutes after the crash.

She said there was a line of traffic backed up and she could see emergency blue lights coming up from Weymouth.

She said: “I went up and over the Ridgeway Hill and came down and thought something was wrong. I put my hazard lights on.”

She added: “I could see lights in different directions and people were out of their cars and I knew straight away it was pretty serious.”

A bunch of red flowers addressed ‘To Scott’ were left at the scene.

A message inside read: “So tragically taken from us, thinking of you. Rest in Peace, Scott. Lots of love cousin Emily, Shane, Lewis and Jack.”

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Margaret Leicester said she was shocked to hear of the fatality.

She said: “I’m very sorry to hear about this.

“My sympathies go out to the people and families concerned.”

Deputy Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Ray Banham said the incident was ‘very sad.’ He said: “Once again it’s so very sad to hear of yet another unfortunate death in the borough – especially one so young.

“It’s very sad. My condolences go out to the family.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101.

Accidents:

August – Relief road is closed for 40 minutes after a crash between a Ford Ka and a Ford Mondeo on the Dorchester side of the Jurassic roundabout. No one was injured.

April – A woman sustained possible spinal injuries after a crash involving a Vauxhall Corsa, Daewoo Matiz and a Ford Focus. The crash happened at 3.25pm near the Jurassic roundabout.

March – Two people were taken to hospital after a crash between a black Honda Civic and a VW Polo.

The first relief road crash was in March 2011 – three days after the new road opened.