AN INVESTIGATION was under way today after a ten-year-old girl died in a horrific car crash on the outskirts of Southampton.

The schoolgirl was a back-seat passenger in the car which collided almost head-on with an 11-ton lorry.

Two adults and two other children were also injured in the crash on the A35 Totton bypass which brought rush-hour traffic chaos across Southampton.

Three firecrews battled to free all five occupants from their red Ford Escort after it crossed the central reservation near Totton gasworks.

Inquiries were continuing today but it is understood the female driver, believed to be the children's mother, lost control of the car just before the collision.

None of the occupants has yet been named but police confirmed the 37-year-old driver and three children all came from Fawley.

The 28-year-old male front-seat passenger, from Southampton, was understood not to be the children's father.

Inspector Martin Barlow, of Hampshire police, said: "The Ford Escort was travelling west on the A35 from Southampton to Rushington.

"On the Totton Causeway the vehicle lost control for an as yet unknown reason and crossed the reservation to the eastbound carriageway, colliding almost head-on with an LGV Ford Cargo travelling east."

All five people in the Escort were taken to Southampton General Hospital, the four survivors with injuries described as serious but not life-threatening.

The female driver suffered head, face and internal injuries including a punctured lung.

Her male companion sustained cuts to his face and head, while a seven-year-old boy and nine-year-old girl suffered broken bones and internal injuries.

The driver of the H-reg curtain-sided box lorry was not injured.

Rescuers were hampered in their attempts to cut free the car occupants as the A-reg Escort ended up underneath the Ford Iveco lorry.

A huge rescue and traffic diversion operation was implemented immediately after the crash which happened at about 5.10pm last night.

Rush-hour traffic heading home to the Waterside area was brought to a complete standstill while police took evidence and photographed the crash scene.

Traffic was diverted via the M271 and other nearby roads but it was more than three hours before the A35 was finally cleared.

Totton town centre was also brought to a complete standstill as a result of the crash, and the A31 was also very badly affected.

Police have appealed for any witnesses to call 01703-282813.

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