New Milton woman fighting for her life after crash with BMW

The female pedestrian, who is from New Milton, was airlifted to hospital after the collision with a blue BMW 318, which happened on Charminster Road in Bournemouth at around 7pm last night.

It was reported that the woman had been a passenger in a blue Vauxhall Astra and had got out of the vehicle shortly before the incident.

The pensioner sustained serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Southampton Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition. Her family has been informed.

The driver of the BMW, a Bournemouth man aged in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and has been released under investigation as enquiries continue.

Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of the traffic unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the injured woman and her family at this time and we are continuing our investigation to establish the full circumstances of this collision."

Eyewitnesses reported seeing eight police cars, ambulances, fire engines and the air ambulance which landed at Bournemouth Electric Club.

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 7pm to reports of a road traffic collision, reportedly involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.

"We attended with an air ambulance, a critical care team, an operations officer and an ambulance."

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to Charminster Road at 6.59pm to an elderly lady trapped under a car.

"Two crews attended, from Redhill and Springbourne, and they used airbags to lift the vehicle and free the casualty, which was achieved by 7.18pm," a spokesperson said.

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 12:384. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.