Swan 'causes crash' leading to fire that brought Poole to standstill

A SWAN on a dual carriageway caused a crash, leaving a car fully engulfed in flames and bringing Poole to a standstill.

Emergency services were called to Dorset Way past Tower Park in Poole during rush hour at 7.50am on Tuesday, May 7.

Two vehicles had crashed because there was a swan on the road, it is understood.

However, the police were called to a swan on the road at 6.23am the same morning and officers had put it on the pavement.

Two fire engines from Poole fire station rushed to the crash in minutes and extinguished a red Vauxhall Corsa engulfed in flames.

Burnt out Vauxhall Corsa (Image: Daily Echo)

An ambulance and a doctor’s car also rushed to the scene, while police officers blocked the road as firefighters tackled the fire.

Meanwhile, motorists were trapped in Dorset Way for more than half an hour and traffic around the area had come to a standstill.

A spokeswoman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Two crews from Poole were called to Dorset Way, Poole at 7.50am this morning.

"The incident involved a two vehicle road traffic on the carriageway, with one of the vehicles well alight on arrival.

"Firefighters extinguished the fire using one hose reel jet and our stop was in at 8.23am. Our ambulance and police colleagues along with a member of Wildlife in Need were also in attendance – there is no information about injuries on the log."

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said she would not go into the cause of the crash and could not confirm if a swan was the cause.

She confirmed a swan had been reported on the road earlier that morning.

She said: "Officers attended and the swan was off the road and on the pavement. Partner agencies were notified."

On the crash, the spokeswoman said minor injuries had been reported and the council was made aware of debris on the road.

South Western Ambulance Service's spokeswoman said: "We sent one double-crewed land ambulance and one operations officer to the scene."