A POLICEMAN'S widow whose husband was killed in a car crash on the flooded Dorchester bypass won £225,000 in agreed damages for his death.

Susan Toomer, of Bere Regis, settled her claim against the Department of Environment at London's High Court just as her case was about to come to trial at London's High Court.

Her 50-year-old husband, Inspector Ian Toomer, had served as a Dorset police officer for 29 years and had been Bridport section commander since the summer of 1996.

He died while on night duty when his car overturned on the A35 east of Winterbourne Abbas on April 29, 1999.

The unmarked police car left the road and Mr Toomer, described as "hard working and ambitious," was killed instantly.

Yesterday (November 15) Mrs Toomer's legal team had planned to argue the Environment Department - which did not admit liability - was at fault because a drain on the road was blocked.

In court documents barrister Barry Coulter, for Mrs Toomer, said there was a great deal of standing water on the road which Mr Toomer's car hit when he overtook a lorry.

Recently West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin called for increased safety measures on the stretch of road which has been branded an accident blackspot.

Mr Toomer's car ploughed into a cottage after skidding out of control.

Speaking in court, Mr Coulter told Judge Simon Hawkesworth QC that as well as settling Mrs Toomer's case for £225,000, the Environment Department had also agreed to pay her £145,000 legal costs bill.

"There were interesting and complex litigation risks to both parties," added Mr Coulter.

He said the Environment Department had been planning to argue Mr Toomer was partly at fault and were also defending the case on the basis there had not been a "breach" of their responsibility to road users.

"I would like to congratulate the parties on reaching this settlement," said Judge Hawkesworth.

First published: November 16