Police launch urgent appeal to hunt down van driver after Fareham woman, 21, is killed in Portchester crash

Officers have widened their search for the driver of the Ford Transit van following the fatal crash in Downend Road, Portchester, this morning.

Police were called to the scene at 12.40am following reports of collision involving a Ford Fiesta that had left the carriageway.

A passenger, a 21-year-old woman from Fareham, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 22-year-old man from Paulsgrove, was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital to be treated for his injuries. They are described as serious but not life-threatening, police said.

Hampshire Constabulary is now investigating the exact circumstances of the collision, and will today be making a number of enquiries in the area.

Officers investigating are keen to speak to the driver of a silver Ford Transit van who they believe was on the road at the time, and may have seen the Fiesta prior to the collision.

Inspector Andrew Tester, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: ‘We are grateful for the responses we have already received from our earlier appeal, but we would like to continue our appeal for witnesses to this tragic incident.

‘From witnesses in the area, we believe a light coloured Ford Transit style van was behind the Fiesta on Downend Road before the collision.

‘I am now making a direct appeal to the driver and any other occupants of that van to please make contact with the police.

‘Whether you saw anything or not, it helps us build a picture of what happened leading up to the collision.’

Anyone with any information, or dash-cam footage from the area, is urged to call police on 101, quoting the reference 44200230693.

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