Motorist from Bransgore questioned after crash outside Royal Bournemouth Hospital leaves man dead and his wife seriously hurt

The 25-year-old man from Bransgore was arrested at the scene of the collision on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He has since been released on police bail until March next year to allow police to carry out further inquiries.

The motorist was held after the crash which happened at the junction outside Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

In the accident 49-year-old pedestrian Peter Worrall, pictured, died and his wife Julie suffered serious injuried.

Both were on foot when they were involved in a collision with a dark-coloured Volvo V40 just before 7.30pm on Sunday.

Mr Worrall died at the scene of the accident on the westbound carriageway of the A3060 Castle Lane East.

His wife was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital suffering from serious head and pelvic injuries.

The couple lived in Bournemouth and Mr Worrall worked as a Director for Key Industrial Equipment on the Ebblake Industrial Estate in Verwood.

They are believed to have been married for around three years.

Last night Mr Worrall's family paid tribute to him. In a statement, they said: “Peter was a much loved husband, brother, father, stepfather and grandad and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was a popular person both at his place of work at Key Industrial Equipment in Verwood and the gym which he belonged to. He was liked by everyone who met him.”

The statement added that the couple moved to Bournemouth five years ago following a promotion Mr Worrall got within his company and that he loved the Bournemouth area.

Emergency services were called at 7.28pm on Sunday December 13 and the road was closed until 3.05am on Monday morning to allow accident investigators to examine the scene.

The driver of the Volvo and the front seat passenger, a 19-year-old woman from Christchurch, suffered minor injuries.

Speaking at the scene, Sergeant Rhiannon Stroud of Dorset Police said: “Sadly a 49-year-old male died at the scene of the collision and a female was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where she is being treated for serious injuries.”

Police have appealed for witnesses to the collision or anyone who saw the Volvo or the pedestrians before the impact to come forward in confidence.

Sgt Stroud added: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or manner of driving of the Volvo immediately before or at the time of the collision to please call Dorset Police urgently."

“I would like to thank motorists for their patience during the road closure, which was necessary to allow emergency services to deal with the incident and for collision investigators to establish what happened.”

Police said Mr Worrall’s next of kin had been told of the tragedy. The Dorset coroner has been informed and an inquest will be held at a date to be fixed.

Call Dorset Police on 101 or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.