A CAR involved in a fatal lorry crash in which a Christchurch man died had a cloned number plate and had been stolen last year, police said.

Officers were alerted to the collision which happened at 3.16am on June 13 involving a HGV lorry and silver Peugeot 107 on the A326 outside Totton. 

Emergency services were sent to the junction with Monkton Lane and despite paramedics’ best efforts, the driver of the Peugeot, a 51-year-old man from Christchurch, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Police have now confirmed the silver Peugeot had been equipped with a cloned license plate and the car had been stolen from Fordingbridge Car Park, Round Hill at Fordingbridge on December 23 last year.

Officers also believe that a second vehicle may have been in the area at the time of the crash with the occupants being potential witnesses. However, they left before the police got there.

A police spokesperson said: “If anyone has any information regarding either of these vehicles, please call 101 quoting reference number 44240247966.”