Legal News

The Police Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Hampshire has criticised local police after hundreds of motorists were left stranded on a motorway for hours following a horrific road traffic accident involving a motorbike.

Hampshire’s PCC Simon Hayes has said that he “wants answers” as to why police officers apparently ignored the welfare of motorists stranded on the A31 for nearly seven hours after the road accident.

The accident occurred on Wednesday (23/01/14) evening and one motorcyclist was killed and another was seriously injured in the motorbike crash. The motorcyclist who died has been named as 31-year-old Daniel Robins from Alumhurst Road in Bournemouth.

The accident also involved a horse which is thought to have escaped from nearby land and was also killed. Some witnesses have reported seeing another stray horse in the area.

Mr Hayes is a formed leader of New Forest District Council and he said he said that motorists were stuck on the A31 “for hours on end” without water, food or access to a lavatory.

“Tragically someone was killed and the accident had to be investigated thoroughly.” said Mr Hayes.

“I can understand why the road was closed – but I also recognise that hundreds of drivers had their journeys disrupted for a number of hours and I'm concerned that their personal welfare was not considered at that time.

“I'll be challenging the chief constable on what could or should have been done to support people stuck in the jam and will be looking for answers.”

Mr Hayes added that no lessons appeared to have been learned from previous incidents, including closure of the M27 last year.

After the motorbike tragedy on the A31, it is reported motorists left stranded were phoning their families to try and find out what was happening.

Mr Hayes said that ways of providing an escape route for motorists from the A31 should a carriageway be closed could be looked at.

Several crossover points were closed on the A31 some years ago and there are now calls to restore them.

Complaints to the Independent Police Complaints Commission about the way police handled the aftermath of the incident have now been referred back to Hampshire Police for an internal investigation.

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