Teen arrested after crashing "stolen" campervan on A35

A teenager has been arrested after a crash involving a “stolen” campervan on the A35 near Chilcombe Lane. Police said officers from the West Dorset Response Policing Team, with support from the Bridport Neighbourhood Policing Team, were called to a single-vehicle collision around 2.15am on Sunday 12 July 2026. When they arrived, a black Nissan campervan was on its side with severe damage, and the driver and some passengers had already left the scene. The driver, a 17-year-old from Dorchester, was later identified and arrested on suspicion of aggravated taking of a vehicle without consent (TWOC), driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving without due care and attention. Investigations found the vehicle had been stolen after midnight from the area of Pitchers, Salway Ash. Despite being designed for two, five people were inside, including the driver and four passengers under 16. No serious injuries were reported, but the driver and one passenger were taken to Dorset County Hospital and later released.