AN OKEHAMPTON woman died in a road traffic accident which occurred between Hatherleigh and Highampton last week.

Debbie Douglas, a 43-year-old woman from Okehampton, was driving the only vehicle involved in the accident, a red Volvo estate.

The accident occurred shortly after midday on Wednesday, January 21, at Venton Cross on the A3072 between Hatherleigh and Highampton.

Okehampton, North Tawton and Hatherleigh crews all attended the scene. The firefighters used two sets of hydraulic rescue equipment to free the woman from the vehicle.

She was then taken to Derriford Hospital by the police helicopter but died at approximately 11.30pm.

Diversions were in operation, with the road closed at Beer Close and Hatherleigh roundabout. Collision investigators and scene of crime officers attended the scene.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident or saw the vehicle prior to the collision to contact them on 08452 7774444, quoting log reference no. 482/21/01.

l A HATHERLEIGH man was airlifted to hospital in a military helicopter, following a road traffic accident on Thursday, January 22.

The accident, involving two vehicles, a Renault Laguna hire car and a red Nissan, occurred at 4.15pm. A helicopter was scrambled from RAF Chivenor and the man was airlifted to North Devon District Hospital.

The man was conscious though he was believed to have sustained serious injuries. Two other people were injured.

Fire engines from Hatherleigh and Okehampton were called out to the scene but no cutting equipment was required as the driver was already out of the vehicle.

Devon Air Ambulance and the Devon and Cornwall police helicopter could not be mobilised because of heavy fog around Exeter. Emergency services contacted Kinloss, the Scottish military airbase, to authorise the use of the helicopter from Chivenor.

The helicopter arrived just after 5pm, 15 minutes after the call was put in.

Accident investigation and scenes of crime officers were called out to the accident.

Diversions were in place following the accident until around 10.30pm, when the road was re-opened.