Pensioner dies following serious accident on M3 (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Pensioner dies following serious accident on M3

8:25am Thursday 26th June 2008

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A PENSIONER has died following a serious accident on the M3 near Winchester this morning (Thursday, June 26).

The accident happened on the northbound carriageway near Winchester services at around 3.50am and a section of the motorway is still closed while police try to establish what happened.

The elderly man, who was in his 70s, was the driver of a blue Proton Wira saloon car, which was in collision with the back of a white Volvo arctic lorry.

He suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the lorry, a 59-year-old man from Portsmouth, is shaken but not injured.

Police have sealed off the northbound carriageway between junction nine for Winnall and junction eight for the A303 to carry out a full investigation of the scene and vehicles. The road is expected to be closed for at least another hour.

Meanwhile, traffic has been heavy this morning and police have set up a diversion route. Motorists heading northbound on the M3 are advised to come off at junction nine and join the A34 and follow the signs to join the A303. Then they will be sign posted to rejoin the M3 towards London at junction eight, where they will be able to rejoin the motorway.

The diversion is said to be flowing freely at present but some drivers have been making their own diversions through Winchester, causing heavy traffic in the city centre.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or either of the vehicles prior to it should contact Sgt Mark Weller at Farnborough Roads Policing Unit, quoting operation Hawkeswood, by calling 0845 045 45 45. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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