A TEENAGE girl is fighting for life after a serious crash on the A35 Puddletown Bypass involving a number of motorbikes.

It happened on the A35 westbound between Yellowham Hill and Puddletown on Saturday, near the Troytown turning about 1.10pm.

Dorset Police said it responded to a "serious injury collision which had occurred between a number of motorcycles".

Emergency services were on the scene and two air ambulances attended. As well as the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, the Devon aircraft was also at the scene.

The National Police Air Service helicopter was also at the incident and was seen hovering above the crash site.

Police said four people, all from the Southampton area, had been injured.

A man aged 23 and a 16-year-old girl girl who were both seriously injured were airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.

The girl has suffered life threatening injuries.  The man’s condition is believed to be serious but not life-threatening.

Two men aged 21 and 28 were taken to Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, for treatment to serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

The official diversion route is the A352 from Dorchester to Wool and then to Bere Regis.

Police, who are appealing for witnesses, closed the road for several hours. It was reopened at around 10.30pm.

In a statement released at 4pm on Saturday, Dorset Police said: "We are currently dealing with a serious injury road traffic collision on the westbound carriageway of the A35 between Yellowham Hill and Puddletown.

"The collision happened at around 1.10pm today, Saturday, involving three motorbikes.

"Four people have been injured. Two air ambulances attended the scene alongside the NPAS helicopter.

"Two of the injured – a man and a teenage girl – have been taken to Southampton General Hospital with serious injuries.

"Two men have been taken to Dorset County Hospital.

"Both lanes of the A35 have been closed and a diversion has been put in place from Bere Regis to Wool, the A352 Wareham Road to Dorchester. 

"The road is expected to be closed for some time and motorists are being advised to avoid the area."

A spokesman for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance said its aircraft had taken a casualty to Southampton Hospital and that the Devon helicopter had also taken a casualty to Southampton.

Southampton General Hospital is home to the major trauma centre.

Both lanes of the A35 remain closed while collision investigators examine the scene. 

Sergeant Joe Pardey, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or the manner of riding of either of the motorcycles prior to the incident, to please call me on 101.

“The road has been closed for a considerable time and I would like to thank motorists for their patience during these closures which are necessary to allow us to establish how the collision occurred.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 7:199. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers.