FELLOW pupils at Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis have now been told by the school that 17-year-old Nick Wildeman was the boy involved in the A35 collision on Monday.

Students were shocked and upset by the news.

Headteacher Dr Richard Steward said: “The school was shocked to be informed of the terrible accident that Nick was involved in on Monday evening and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.

"We wish Nick a full and speedy recovery."

Nick, who lives near the crash site, is still in the neurological ward at Southampton Hospital where he was taken after the accident.

His condition today was described as criticial and stable.

Police are still anxious to speak to witnesses or anyone who who saw Nick before the collision with the Mercedes lorry at around 4.45pm on Monday.

A family liaison officer has been in contact with his family who are too distressed to talk.

The crash happened on the A35 just west of the Old London Inn near Miles Cross at 5pm.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the teenager prior to the collision with the Mercedes lorry.

The youngster, who was a pedestrian lives near the crash site.

He was treated on the scene by paramedics before being taken to Dorset County Hospital and then transferred to Southampton Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police closed the road in both directions for accident investigation until 11.45pm.

The lorry, a Mercedes articulated tractor unit and trailer was driven by a man from the Southampton area.

Bridport Police Inspector Mike Darby said: “Clearly traffic experts are investigating the cause of the accident and we would like anybody who was using the road at that time who may have seen the young man in the vicinity of the A35 at Miles Cross on Monday evening at about quarter to five to contact Dorset Police at Bridport.

“Clearly the young man is seriously injured and our thoughts are with his family and friends while they deal with this difficult time."

Insp Darby said without any witnesses who saw the accident, police have to look at a series of things which could have happened.

He said police could also calculate the speed of the vehicle from the lorry tachograph.

There is also physical evidence the police can gather from the scene.

Insp Darby said the lorry driver was helping police with their enquiries.

A police spokesman on the scene said paramedics were treating the boy in front of the lorry in the road when he arrived.

He said it was unclear why the boy appeared to be in the middle of the road when the collision happened.

He said: “We don’t know why he was in the road. I have spoken to neighbours and they didn’t see what happened.”

Gerry Boulter from West House, which is close to the accident site, said people were shocked by the accident but not surprised.

He said: “People on that road do expect this sort of thing to happen so in that sense it is no surprise.

“You are there almost waiting for the next one to happen."

Bridport town and district councillor David Tett said: “I am all but speechless. Hardly a week passes without an accident or incident happening in, on or around the junction at Miles Cross.

“I know the few experts among us will argue it is all down to driver error, but the vast majority of us will argue it is caused by confusion down to a badly laid out junction.

“The Highways Agency must now look to acting quickly and not to delay putting off installing a roundabout. Surely something must be wrong for these spate of accidents to occur on this stretch of the A35.”

Police are asking any witnesses to contact them on 101 or on Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.