BEAMINSTER: A woman has been left with a serious head injury after a passing car caused her to fall into the River Brit.


Dorset Police are appealing for witnesses after a 44-year-old local woman fell into the River Brit near Beaminster late on Thursday night.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “An incident occurred on Bridport Road, A3066, near to the junction on Whitcombe Road.

“A small light coloured vehicle was driving from the Bridport direction into Beaminster.

“The presence of the vehicle caused two pedestrians to move out of its way but unfortunately one person fell into a gap in the railings and into the River Brit.

“The person suffered a serious head injury.”

Dorset Police are appealing for any information regarding the identity of the car and its driver. 

South West Ambulance Service were called to the scene at 10.50pm and confirmed a woman was taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester suffering from a head injury.

PC Tim Poole of the Beaminster safer neighbourhood team said: “I think we are lucky that the consequences of this are not far worse.

“The lady suffered a head injury which I am told will not have a long lasting effect. I hope this is so.

“The railings at this point on Prout Bridge have been fairly regularly damaged over the years, usually by long lorries, travelling north on the A3066, turning into Whitcombe Road. The back end of the lorries swing out over the river and through the railings.

“Often the drivers do not even know it has happened. Most recently I recovered one of the broken rails straddling the road near the Mapperton turn off.”

On Thursday, councillors discussed safety measures along Bridport Road in order to prevent such an incident happening again.

Cllr Janet Page represents Beaminster on the town council and on West Dorset District Council.

“I don't think speed had anything to do with this incident,” she said. 

“Unfortunately that part of the road is very narrow and of course there isn't a pavement.

“It is on quite a big junction and the lady was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time and the railings were not good enough to stop her from falling into the river.

“The railings are often damaged and it is currently being looked at how we can improve things along there. 

“They keep mending the railings, but it's quite a problem along that area.

“It can be quite difficult to judge and on the other side there is a pavement that eventually tapers off too - so it can catch people out.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call PC 1519 Gooding on 101, quoting incident number 27:413.