Two people were injured – one seriously – after a crash involving a car and a lorry on the A37 north of Dorchester.

Dramatic pictures of the scene from the fire service show the aftermath of the crash with the car involved left wrecked.

The collision, involving a white Scania lorry and a grey Audi A3, happened just before 9.45am today, Monday.

Police are appealing for witnesses.

It happened at Long Ash Lane near Grimstone and resulted in a section of the A37 being closed for more than five hours to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident and for an examination of the collision scene to take place. Diversions were put in place.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called the scene.

The driver of the Audi, a 80-year-old man from the Yeovil area, was taken to Dorset County Hospital with serious injuries. His male passenger, also from the Yeovil area, was also taken to hospital for treatment to chest and head injuries.

The lorry driver, 65-year-old man from Frome, was uninjured .

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said two crews from Dorchester were requested after two people needed to be extracted from the car.

The spokesman said the two people were “medically trapped” in their vehicle which means a person is effectively trapped in their car due to injury, as opposed to the crash damage preventing them from getting out of their own accord.

The fire service removed the roof of the car which allowed paramedics access to the casualties.

They were treated at the scene for chest pains and a head injury and were both taken to hospital for further treatment.

Road closures were in place between the junction with the A356 and the Long Ash Service Station.

Police thanked motorists for their patience during the closure.

The vehicles were recovered at approximately 2.30pm and the local authority attended due to oil on the road.

The road was reopened at 3pm.

Dorset Echo:

Picture: D&WFRS

Sergeant Phil Lee, of the traffic unit, said: “We are carrying out an investigation to establish the full circumstances of this collision.

“I am appealing for any witnesses who have not already spoken to police to contact us. I would also urge anyone who was travelling in the area at the time and has dashcam fitted to their vehicles to check their footage to see if they captured the incident.

“Finally, I would like to thank motorists for their patience and understanding during the road closures, which were necessary to allow the emergency services to respond to the collision and for a detailed examination of the scene to take place.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 5:113.