Police plea over crash victim

Police have urged the public not to take the law into their own hands following a car crash in which a student was killed and four others injured.

Thomas Michael Dowdney, 18, was the front seat passenger in a Ford Escort which collided with a Vauxhall Astra on the B3157 near Abbotsbury in Dorset.

The accident happened at about 1845 BST on Tuesday 14 October.

Mr Dowdney, of Chickerell Road, Weymouth, was seriously injured and later died in Dorset County Hospital.

Inspector Mark Dobbs, of the Dorchester Road Policing Unit, urged people not to jump to conclusions about who may be responsible for the crash.

I appreciate that feelings may be running high but it is important that the police are allowed to carry out the investigation Insp Mark Dobbs

He said: "I understand that there have been rumours and allegations as to who was responsible for this tragic crash and I would appeal to people to not jump to conclusions or take the law into their own hands.

"This incident has caused enough distress to the people involved and their families."

The Inspector's appeal followed Mr Dowdney's funeral, which was held at Holy Trinity Church in Trinity Road at 1300 BST on Thursday.

He added: "I appreciate that feelings may be running high but it is important that the police are allowed to carry out the investigation."

A Weymouth grandmother who was driving the Vauxhall Astra is still being treated at the county hospital after suffering serious chest injuries.

Her two grandchildren, who were also in the car, were also injured.

Youths arrested

Her 10-year-old grand-daughter is still being treated in the Southampton General Hospital after suffering serious head injuries.

Her nine-year-old grandson was released from the county hospital a few days after the collision.

A passenger in the Ford Escort, a Weymouth man, was discharged from the county hospital the day after the accident.

Two youths, aged 17 and 19, who were arrested have been put on police bail.