TWO accidents on the A30 near Okehampton plunged the area into traffic chaos last Thursday afternoon.
The two separate incidents took place on the road within half-an-hour of each other.
The first accident took place at Sticklepath on the westbound carriageway, at 2.23pm. A Rover driven by an elderly man left the road and collided with a hedge. Only one vehicle was involved in the incident and the man suffered minor injuries to his arm.
The second accident was reported to police at 2.50pm on the A30 at Meldon, on the eastbound carriageway. The accident involved a white Mercedes van. A 43-year-old woman from the Bristol area was taken to hospital by air ambulance with serious, but not life threatening injuries.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesmen said the road had to be closed for some time as it was believed someone else had been thrown out of the vehicle following the accident at Meldon.
However, after an extensive search, police established the driver had been the only occupant of the vehicle.
Diversions were set up while emergency services attended the scene, with heavy goods vehicles being diverted through Okehampton during the afternoon causing long tailbacks through the centre of the town.
The road was reopened at around 6pm.