THE DRIVER of a car that crashed and burst into flames after avoiding a swan on a dual carriageway says 'police negligence' caused the incident. 

The swan on Dorset Way reportedly caused the crash, leaving a car destroyed, at about 7.50am on May 7. 

It has since been revealed police were called to the scene more than an hour before the crash to remove the swan.

It is not clear what happened and why the bird was still in the area.

The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The police got a call at 6.30am about the swan in the middle of the dual carriageway and they went out and just moved it onto the side of the road and just left it there. 

"Apparently they couldn't get hold of any emergency services to come clear it. It caused the accident I was in. Two cars slammed on their brakes in front of me so I slammed mine on, but I realised I [wasn't] slowing down in time.

"I swerved out of the way and clipped their bumper and went into the barrier. I saw the smoke and jumped straight out of the car."

Police and firefighters quickly arrived on the scene to tackle the car blaze, but the man said he hasn't had contact with either after he was told he was ok to leave the scene. 

Despite losing his car, the driver said he felt lucky the crash had not been worse but said if the swan had been properly removed, it wouldn't have happened in the first place. 

He said: "It comes down as police negligence because their duty of care is to clear a hazard out of the road and their job is to make that road safe. 

"It really could have been worse than it was so I was lucky to have got out with what happened. If I didn't miss that car I would have gone straight under her and I would be in a hospital bed."

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police received a report at 6.23am on Tuesday 7 May 2024 of a swan on the side of the carriageway on the A3049 in Poole.

"Officers attended and the swan was off the road and on the pavement. They left the area at around 7.25am.

"The swan was not injured or in distress and officers do not have the appropriate capabilities to safely remove an animal from a location. The RSPCA was notified as they are trained to safely deal with wild animals."