A 17-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist has died following a crash with a van driven by a man from Southampton.

Emergency services were called to the scene on the A31 at around 12.50pm on Friday.

The crash involved a red and black Hyosung motorcycle and a white Ford Transit panel van belonging to High Wycombe company Antac Support Services.

The rider of the motorbike – a 17-year-old boy from Bournemouth – was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed and the coroner notified.

The driver of the van, a 48-year-old man from Southampton, was uninjured.

Both lanes of the A31 were closed between the Merley roundabout and the Canford Bottom roundabout while collision investigators examined the scene.

There was major disruption in the surrounding area, with traffic queuing through Wimborne town centre, Ferndown, Longham, and Bear Cross.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

Police Sergeant Fern Graham, of the traffic unit, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was travelling along the A31 and witnessed the collision to please contact Dorset Police.

“I would also like to hear from anyone who saw the manner of driving or riding of either vehicle before the collision or has a dash cam fitted in their vehicle.”

He added: “While I appreciate the road closures have inconvenienced motorists, I would like to reassure them that they were entirely necessary to allow officers to establish the exact causes of this collision.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 6:213. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.