POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a fatal collision on the A37 north of Dorchester killed an elderly woman from Bridport.

Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after midday after a single-decker Volvo coach and a silver Mitsubishi car collided at Holywell Cross near Evershot.

An 80-year-old woman from Bridport, who was a front seat passenger in the car, was killed in the collision.

The next of kin have been informed.

The driver of the car, an 83-year-old man also from Bridport, was rushed to hospital with head injuries, but his injuries are not thought to be serious.

The coach, owned by Bristol-based company Berkeley Coach and Travel Ltd, had around 20 people on board. One passenger, a man aged 88, was treated at the scene by paramedics for minor injuries, but did not require hospital treatment.

The road was closed for several hours throughout the afternoon and into the evening as emergency services worked at the scene and police conducted an investigation.

Diversions were put in place via the A30 and A356.

The crash comes just days after a another fatal collision on the same stretch of road in which two people died.

Louiza Covey, 25, from Bridport and a 45-year-old man from Poole, died in a head-on collision at Break Heart Hill on Friday and four people were left seriously injured.

Dorset Police, South Western Ambulance Service, Devon Air Ambulance and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service all attended the incident yesterday, and now police are appealing for witnesses to the collision as they launch an investigation into the incident.

Police Constable Mike Henstridge, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “This was a tragic incident and I would like to thank motorists for their patience during the road closure.

“I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the manner of driving of either vehicle prior to the incident to please call on 101. All calls will be treated in strict confidence.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We were called at 12.05pm to the incident. There were two people in the car - an 80-year-old woman and an 83-year-old man.

“The woman has sadly been declared dead at the scene. Another person has been taken to Dorset County Hospital by ambulance with a head injury, but this is not believed to be serious.

“There were around 20 people on the coach – an 88-year-old man who was on board has been treated at the scene for minor injuries.

“A replacement coach has now arrived on scene.

“The Devon Air Ambulance, an air ambulance officer, two land ambulances and the hazardous area response team attended the scene.”

Speaking at the scene, Sergeant Rhiannon Stroud said: “At approximately 12:07pm we were called to a collision between a coach and a car on the A37 at Holywell Cross.

“Casualties were treated at the scene and sadly, the front seat passenger of the car died at the scene.

“Any witnesses to this incident are asked contact PC 2342 Henstridge at the Weymouth Traffic Unit by calling 101.”

Mary Penfold, West Dorset district councillor for the area, said she was horrified another accident had happened on that stretch of road.

Mrs Penfold said: “I’m very, very sorry for the people involved and their families and friends, and we will do our utmost to be as supportive as we can to the authorities and to the families.

“It’s absolutely horrendous when anybody loses their life on the roads, but to have two collisions to happen so close together is horrifying.”

Witnesses and anyone with information are urged to call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 13:156, or call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.