A road accident in Southampton on Monday night which left two men in hospital with serious injuries was the third smash to have happened at that spot since November last year.

Resident Zita Virgil said she feared someone could be killed outside her home on Middle Road, near the junction with Granaway Heights Road, after seeing three crashes in the short time she has lived there.

The mother-of-two was one of the first people on the scene of Monday's crash after she heard a truck collide with the utility pole outside her home.

She and her husband Onslow were among those that called for the emergency services and said she was sure, at first, that somebody had been killed.

Fortunately, none of three people involved in the collision sustained life-threatening injuries.

The expectant mother said: "We heard the loud bang and the house literally shook, and my husband ran outside to see what had happened.

"I could see a man trapped inside the truck and the motorcyclist on the other side of the road injured - it looked bad.

"I thought the motorcyclist was dead, at first, but then I saw his feet move. I felt terrible.

"This is the third accident we have seen outside the house since moving here in November. I don't know what it is that has caused them, but it seems pretty bad.

"I think something may have to be done. We have seen it happen three times - who knows when it will happen again? It could be worse next time."

The accident at 6.25 p.m. on Monday brought traffic chaos to the west end of the Island until about 9 p.m. when the truck was eventually towed away. The smash was the latest in a series of bad road crashes on the Island this year.

It is believed the driver of the commercial truck, which belonged to Rayclan Ltd. automotive services, lost control of the vehicle as he was driving westbound, hitting the utility pole.

As the truck protruded into the road at an angle, it is thought that the motorcyclist, who was heading in the opposite direction, then collided with the side, rear end of it.

The motorcyclist, a 25-year-old man from Southampton, received head injuries in the accident and was described as stable in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital yesterday.

The 56-year-old driver of the truck received minor cuts, but his passenger, a 21-year-old man from Warwick, sustained leg injuries and had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. He was also said to be stable in hospital yesterday. Both men in the truck worked for Rayclan.

Police at the scene faced further problems when they attempted to divert the mounting peak-time traffic along the railway trail, but first had to unlock the gates.

But then additional problems arose after vehicles found it difficult to pass through two boulders beside the gate, which had been put there by the Works and Engineering, to prevent vehicles using the trail at will.

Police officers had to wait for a crane to arrive to remove the boulders before the traffic could begin to filter away.

As a result of the problems with the boulders on Monday night, park officer Craig Burt, of the Parks Department, said a meeting was held yesterday within his department to discuss what be should be done, if anything, to prevent the same difficulties arising again.

He said: "The boulders may be taken away. We hope to make a decision at the end of the week.

"We have not discussed anything with the Police yet. That is one of the avenues that has to be taken before any final decision is made.

"The issue is trying to keep vehicles and traffic out, particularly youngsters on motorcycles, because this is an area where people walk. But, obviously, it presented us with problems on Monday night.

"What may be the answer is just to put gates there. The majority of entrances on the trails just have gates, but boulders have been used as well when people have created their own path on the outside of the gate."

Last night a Police spokesman said it had so far been a bad year for road accidents and urged drivers to be vigilant and careful.

He said: "At this point, it's too early to confirm the exact reasons for the accident. It's still under investigation. We are looking for anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.

"There appears to be no indication that this particular spot is one that deserves more concern than others, but what we are asking is that people exercise caution at all times on the road.

"We have had a number of serious accidents so far this year. We are urging people to be careful when driving themselves, and to be aware of what other drivers on the road are doing."

Rayclan did not wish to comment on the accident or the condition of their workers yesterday.

Anyone with information about the accident should call P.c. Alan Looby at Somerset Police Station on 234-1010.