Police investigating a fatal road traffic collision have charged a man with causing death by careless driving, failing to stop and driving while disqualified.

Sixteen-year-old Jade Clark was struck by a Volvo XC90 as she rode her moped along the A31 near Ashley Heath at 8.23pm on Sunday February 24. She died at the scene as a result of a severe head injury.

Brian Hampton, a 58-year-old Kent man, was arrested at an address in the Ashford area at around 10am yesterday, Thursday 21 March 2013. A Volvo XC90 was also seized.

Hampton was charged with three offences – causing death by careless driving, failing to stop and driving while disqualified.

He will appear at Bournemouth Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Inspector Matt Butler, of the Dorset Police Traffic Unit, said: “Following a thorough investigation I can now confirm that the arrested man has been charged.

“I would like to express my personal gratitude to the local community and the media for the huge amount of support that has been shown to this investigation.

“I must also stress and remind members of the media that – as is typical in such circumstances – it would be entirely inappropriate for Dorset Police to comment further ahead of the trial. It is vital that the justice system is allowed to follow its course.”

In a joint investigation between the Force’s Major Crime Investigation Team and the Traffic Unit, officers had launched an extensive search for a Volvo XC90 registered between 2003 and 2007.

Over 1000 vehicles were eliminated by investigators.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 24:393.