Hants car fire is 'attempted murder investigation'

Detectives are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire in Hursley which left three people with serious injuries.

Emergency services responded to a call from a member of the public just after 8pm on Monday, August 11, following a report of a car fire on Merdon Castle Lane.

A 37-year-old woman, a six-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy, all from Southampton, were rescued from the fire and taken to hospital. The woman and girl are currently in a serious condition and the boy is being treated for life threatening injuries.

Detective Inspector Simon Baker from the Hampshire Major Investigation Team said: “This is an extremely distressing incident for everyone involved. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those who have been seriously injured and specially trained officers are continuing to support them at this difficult time.

“This is now being treated as an attempted murder investigation. Our priority is to establish how this fire started. We are keeping an open mind and considering all the options at this stage including whether the fire was started deliberately.

“We also have to take into consideration that the people involved are all being treated in hospital and we have to balance our investigation with their medical needs, so establishing the full circumstances of what has happened may take some time."

A five-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being dragged from the family's burning car. His mother - and six-year-old sister - were also badly injured.

Two passers-by made frantic attempts to pull the boy out of the vehicle. The woman and had daughter had already managed to escape the flames.

The car burst into flames on Merdon Castle Lane, in Hursley, near Winchester. Tonight, all three victims are in hospital. Here's Andrew Pate.

A five-year-old boy has suffered life threatening injures and a six-year-old girl and woman have also been taken to hospital after their car erupted in flames.

The woman and two children were understood to have been severely burned after they were trapped in their Ford Fiesta in Hursley, near Winchester.

Andrew Pate sends this from the scene of the fire this afternoon.

A six-year-old girl and five-year-old boy are recovering today after being rescued from a car on fire. A 37-year-old woman was also hurt in the fire.

Emergency services received a call from a member of the public at 8 pm yesterday evening, they reported the fire on Merdon Castle Lane near Hursley in Hampshire.

The woman and two children were rescued from the fire and taken to hospital in a serious condition. The boy is said to have life threatening injuries.

The road is currently closed at the scene of the fire to allow police to investigate its cause.

An investigation is underway after woman and two young children were hospitalised when their car erupted in flames.

The two kids were understood to have been severely burned after they were trapped in their Ford Fiesta in Hursley, near Winchester.

Brave motorists dragged the young boys from the burning vehicle as firefighters said the car was completely destroyed by the fire.

Eye witnesses described seeing the boy and girl trapped inside the car, while a panic-stricken woman stood nearby at just after 8pm yesterday.

Emergency services were called to a car fire on Merdon Castle Lane in Hursley at around 8pm last night after a member of the public alerted them.

A woman and two young children were transported to Southampton General Hospital suffering from serious burns.

A woman and two young boys had to be dragged from a car that was on fire in a Hampshire village last night. A passer-by went to help them when he spotted the flames in Hursley at about 7pm. All three are said to be in a serious condition.