AN 18-year-old girl has been killed – and three people arrested – after a crash in East Dorset.

The incident happened on Hurn Road, between Ringwood and Matchams, at around 9.30pm last night (Saturday, September 16).

Dorset Police said it was reported the vehicle involved, a blue BMW 1 Series, had left the carriageway and sustained extensive damage.

“Emergency services attended and very sadly an 18-year-old female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene,” a spokesperson said.

“Her family has been informed.”

The three other occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital, they said, with one believed to have sustained serious injuries and the other two, minor injuries.

Two men and a woman, all aged 18, were arrested on suspicion of driving offences.

Road closures were put in place as the emergency services responded and for an examination of the scene.

Sergeant Mile Gatfield, of the traffic unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the young woman who sadly died, and officers are supporting her family.

“We are conducting a detailed investigation to establish the full circumstances of this collision and I am keen to hear from any witnesses to the incident, or the manner of driving of the vehicle involved prior to it.

“I would also urge anyone who may have captured any relevant dashcam footage to please contact us.

“Finally, I would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding during the road closures, these are necessarily to allow the emergency services to respond and for an examination of the scene to be carried out.”

Anyone with information about the crash, or dashcam footage, should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, by email to scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk, or on 101, quoting incident number 55230147318.

They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.