A 19-YEAR-OLD man died after being hit by a car as he walked along a country road.

The accident happened on the A336 Southampton Road outside Bartley Cross Farm, Cadnam, just before 1am on Sunday.

The accident follows another fatal accident in July when a 17-year-old youth died just a few hundred yards along the road.

The latest victim, who has not yet been named by the police, was walking along the dark, unlit road when he was hit by an Alfa Romeo as it rounded a right-hand bend.

He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital where he died from head injuries.

The car driver, a 38-year-old man from Wimborne, also went to Southampton General Hospital with a hand injury.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident or anyone with information about the pedestrian or car prior to the incident.

Just five months ago Harvey Bartlett, of Lyndhurst, lost his life at Netley Marsh after he drove his car into a telegraph pole in Ringwood Road which merges into Southampton Road.

Netley Marsh councillors had been lobbying the county council to lower the speed limit on Ringwood Road for ten years.

District councillor and Netley Marsh parish councillor, Leslie Puttock said: "It is a very sad day and especially sad at this time of year. It is a de-restricted stretch of road between Netley Marsh and Cadnam, which both have 40mph limits.

"There are lots of bends in that small part of the road. The speed limit should be restricted and there should be some more double white lines."

The accident on Sunday happened near the home of Pat Duffy, a 52-year-old company director.

The father-of-three, who lives in Southampton Road at Bartley, told the Daily Echo: "It's very unfortunate but it wasn't a shock to hear that another person has been killed and I expect there will be more.

"This road is a death-trap and there has probably been about six fatalities in the last five years. It is a very busy road and a main through-road for Esso tankers going to the refinery at Fawley.

"There should be a 40mph limit with speed cameras on this stretch of road as there is on other parts of it."

Anyone with information on the accident in the early hours of Sunday morning should contact PC Anthony Flatman at Winchester Road Policing Unit on 0845 045 4545.