A WOMAN died in a horrific crash on one of Hampshire's most dangerous roads - just weeks before work is due to begin on sweeping safety improvements.

Two other people were seriously injured following the smash on the A36 near Whiteparish.

A car heading towards Southampton overtook a line of traffic and forced two vehicles coming in the opposite direction off the road.

The second car lost control and crashed, killing its driver Christine Pereza, 48, from Lancing, West Sussex.

Police said the car heading south, thought to be a black Vauxhall Corsa, failed to stop after the crash. It happened at about 6.10pm on Friday.

A container lorry which had been at the front of the line of traffic also left the scene without stopping.

The A36 was closed for three hours between Whiteparish and Ower while emergency services attended the scene.

In just two weeks, work will begin on a huge raft of safety improvements on this stretch of the road.

New white lines will be painted and pedestrian crossings and vehicle activated warning signs installed, as well as a high-friction road surface in a bid to slow drivers.

Test Valley councillor John Lewis said: "It's very sad that another life has been lost, doubly sad that it happens just when we receive this news about work starting."

Cllr Lewis was one of thousands of residents and politicians who joined our campaign to cut the carnage on the A36.

The campaign started in June 2003 when a minibus taking daytrippers back to the Countess Mountbatten House hospice in West End was involved in a terrifying eight-vehicle smash. Two elderly people were killed and 14 injured.

Improvements have been a long time coming.

Late last year two speed cameras were installed at Wellow and in May 2004 an open meeting was held on further improvements.

Cllr Lewis said: "Last year we thought we could get things going quicker that we have done. Perhaps we were naive. Agencies like the Highways Agency move at the pace of bureaucracies."

Alan Clark, from the A36 Residents' Association, added: "The supposed safety measures are an insult to the people in this area. The road is lethal. I'm asked about improvements - I say, what improvements?"

HA spokesman Robin Millar said: "We try to see whether the road in some way contributed to any accident, but in the majority of cases it's down to driver error."