A POOLE headteacher is one of two people who died after two separate road crashes within 20 minutes.

Mrs Ally Mullany, head of St Joseph's Catholic Combined School in Parkstone, died following a collision involving a fire engine, believed to be en route to the first incident on the A35 yesterday.

Her two children, Niamh, aged 11, and Kieran, aged 14, were taken to hospital, where they were in stable condition. Niamh goes to Lytchett Matravers Primary School, where her brother was also a pupil. 

The school has issued this statement: "It is with the greatest regret and sadness that we have to inform you that Mrs Mullany died in a car accident this morning.

"Out of respect we have decided to close the school on Monday. We will update further tomorrow.

"We would ask that you hold Mrs Mullany and her family in your prayers."

Tributes have been pouring in for the popular head, who was formerly deputy head teacher at Moordown St John's Primary School in Bournemouth.

Poole council leader Cllr Elaine Atkinson said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and especially the two children in hospital. It is a terrible tragedy and we will of course be putting specialist support in the school to help them deal with it."

Floral tributes have been left at the Sancreed Road school. A personal statement on the school’s website describes Mrs Mullany as a “proud mum of four children, two boys and two girls.”

It said she and her family, including husband Brendan, moved to the Poole area in 2002, following a brief time living in Singapore. She enjoyed horse riding and following the “highs and lows of Liverpool Football Club.”

Emergency services were scrambled to the A35 near Morden Park Corner, between Bere Regis and the Bakers Arms roundabout, at 7.50 yesterday.

A male driver, who is believed to be in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash, involving a single vehicle. It is understood that his silver Ford Focus collided with a tree.

Just 20 minutes later the alarm was raised following a head-on crash nearby on the B3075 involving a car and a fire engine.

A Dorset police spokeswoman said one person, believed to be a middle-aged woman, had died at the scene and two occupants of the car, believed to be children, had been airlifted to Southampton hospital.

They are understood to be boys aged 10 and 14. They are both being treated for serious injuries.

Jane Stevens, 39, who lives just metres from the second collision scene, said: “I’m just upset for them. As a mum I am really sorry that someone has died. It’s tragic.”

She said she heard the crash and wondered what it was but when she saw the blue lights, she knew the emergency services were already at the scene.

“All I could see was the flashing lights of the fire truck and the roof of the red car”, she said.

“It’s quite a busy road normally.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to phone 101.

The B3075 is still closed between Morden Park Corner and Sandford.

The A35 has now reopened. 

The Coroner has been informed and inquests will be held.

Sergeant Stuart Pitman, of Dorset police, said: “The male driver of the Ford Focus was pronounced dead at the scene but fire crews were requested to attend.

“While we were dealing with that incident and a very short time later another call came in of another very serious collision on the B3075 where a head-on crash had occurred between a red Mini and a fire engine responding to the first incident.

“There were three occupants in the Mini and one of them, a woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The firemen were not injured and they tended to the woman and two passengers but sadly there was nothing that could be done to save the driver.

“The two passengers were released from the vehicle and airlifted to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

“The fire brigade is co-operating with the police investigation.

“Obviously they are two separate, horrific collisions but are tragically linked due to the fire engine attending the first incident.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the two casualties involved at this tragic time.”

Dorset Fire Chief Darran Gunter said: “Just before 8am today, Dorset Fire was mobilised to an RTC near Morden Park Corner on the A35.

" We are aware that sadly one male driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Whilst responding to this incident a fire appliance collided with a car. Two occupants of this vehicle were taken to Southampton Hospital.

"We understand that sadly, the third occupant was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those involved in this tragic incident.

"Dorset Police will be conducting a full investigation into this incident and we will assist them wherever we can.

"As this matter is under police investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”