A PENSIONER died after she was hit by a lorry in a layby on one of Hampshire’s busiest roads.

The 72-year-old woman was struck by the lorry on the eastbound A31 in New Forest yesterday.

Police closed the carriageway for several hours causing traffic chaos.
Some motorists reportedly tried to turn around and drive the wrong way along the dual carriageway to escape the queues.

​Emergency services were called to the incident just before 8am yesterday between Burley services and Bratley Arch.

The woman, from Bournemouth, was treated by ambulance crews at the scene and taken to hospital, but she died of her injuries.

An investigation continues today nto what cause the accident.

SCAS were called to the scene at 7.56am and sent one officer, a specialist paramedic, an ambulance and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance to the crash.

The driver of the long-distance HGV which was involved in the incident did not sustain any injuries. 

No arrests have been made by the police.

 In a statement Hampshire police said: “Officers were called to the A31 between Burley services and Bratley Arch at just after 8am following a serious injury collision between a pedestrian and an articulated lorry.

“Ambulance crews were called to the scene to treat the pedestrian, a 72 year-old woman from Bournemouth, who sadly died from her injuries.

“The ‪‎eastbound‬ carriageway was closed to allow an investigation to take place between ‪‎‪‎the A338‬ at Ringwood up to ‪‎Stoney Cross‬. 

“Traffic that was caught between the diversion that was set up and the collision itself was released eastbound on one lane that was temporarily opened. The road has now fully re-opened.

“All parties believed to have been involved have been spoken to at the scene by officers.”

Screens were erected around the area where the incident happened.

Some drivers who were caught in the road closure told the Echo that passengers were leaving the cars they had been in and dragged their suitcases along the central reservation towards Ringwood.

They also said that some vehicles were trying to turn around and drive west along the eastbound carriageway.

Anyone who saw the incident has been asked to call Sergeant Mark Thornley at the western roads policing unit on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.