A MAN was taken to hospital by air ambulance after a truck crashed into a tree near Shaftesbury.

Yesterday, July 22, at around 5pm, a white Ford Transit tipper truck left the carriageway of the B3091 at Hartgrove and collided with a tree.

Emergency services attended the scene, including officers from Dorset Police.

The driver of the truck, described as a local man aged in his 30s, was taken to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance for treatment to serious injuries.

Two other passengers were treated for minor injuries.

The road was closed following the incident but reopened at around 9.15pm.

Sergeant Lee Savage, of the traffic unit, said: “We are carrying out an investigation to establish the circumstances of this collision and I am appealing for any witnesses to please come forward.

“I would also urge anyone who was driving in the area at the time and has dashcam fitted to their vehicle to check their footage for anything relevant.

“Finally, I would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding during the road closure, which was necessary to allow the emergency services to respond to the incident and for a detailed examination of the scene to take place.”

Witnesses or anyone with further information should contact Dorset Police by calling 101 and quoting incident number 22:364.