TWO people have died and two others suffered serious injuries in separate tragedies on Dorset’s roads yesterday.

The second fatal collision involved a fire engine believed to be responding to the first crash on the A35 on Sunday morning.

Emergency services and off duty officers were summoned to the scene of both horrific incidents – the first on the A35 near Morden Park Corner, between Bere Regis and the Baker’s Arms roundabout around 7.50am.

A male driver, who is believed to be in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash.

It is understood that his silver Ford Focus collided with a tree.

Just 20 minutes later the alarm was raised following a head-on crash nearby on the B3075 involving a red Mini and a fire engine.

A Dorset police spokeswoman said one person, believed to be a middle-aged woman, had died at the scene and two occupants of the car, believed to be two boys aged 10 and 14, had been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The fire engine ended up half embedded in a hedge and firefighters were seen speaking to police officers throughout the morning, while specialist investigators examined the scene.

The roof of the red Mini was removed to release the casualties with parts of the bonnet and front of the car scattered in pieces across the road.

Inspector Matt Butler from Dorset Police Traffic Unit said it was still early stages of the investigation and would not speculate on the cause or circumstances surrounding the collision.

Jane Stevens, 39, who lives in a cottage yards from the second collision scene, said: “I’m just upset for them. As a mum I am really sorry that someone has died. It’s tragic.”

She said she heard the crash and wondered what it was but when she saw the blue lights, she knew the emergency services were already at the scene.

“All I could see was the flashing lights of the fire truck and the roof of the red car”, she said.

“It’s quite a busy road normally.”

The B3075 was closed between Morden Park Corner and Sandford for several hours while collision investigators worked to piece together what had happened.

The A35 was also closed throughout the morning while officers investigated the single vehicle collision.

The Coroner has been informed and inquests will be held.

Next of kin have been informed.

Dorset Police and Dorset Fire and Rescue released a joint statement concerning the incidents, appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact police on 101.

Sergeant Stuart Pitman, of Dorset police, said: “The male driver of the Ford Focus was pronounced dead at the scene but fire crews were requested to attend.

“While we were dealing with that incident and a very short time later another call came in of another very serious collision on the B3075 where a head-on crash had occurred between a red Mini and a fire engine responding to the first incident.

“There were three occupants in the Mini and one of them, a woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The firemen were not injured and they tended to the woman and two passengers but sadly there was nothing that could be done to save the driver.

“The two passengers were released from the vehicle and airlifted to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

“The fire brigade is co-operating with the police investigation.

“Obviously they are two separate, horrific collisions but are tragically linked due to the fire engine attending the first incident.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the two casualties involved at this tragic time.”

Dorset and Somerset and Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulances flew the two boys to Southampton General Hospital.

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