A DRIVER of a tipper lorry had died after being taken ill at the wheel near Winchester.

The 62-year-old is thought to have collapsed whilst driving the eight-wheel truck on the A31 near Winchester at around 5.40pm last night.

Sgt Stuart Gilmour, of Winchester police, said: “The driver was heading towards Alresford is believed to have had medical problems. He slowed in the middle of the road and then rolled back into two vehicle following. He did not lose control. He brought it to a standstill and it rolled back.”

He was taken by ambulance to hospital but medical staff were unable to save him.

Police closed the A31 at Spitfire Link roundabout and at a cross-over point on the A31 dual carriageway between the turnings to Chilcomb and the A272, but the incident caused severe congestion until the road was reopened at around 8.30pm.

The driver who is from Alresford has not been named.

The death is being investigated by the roads policing unit based at Whitchurch station.

Fully laden the truck weighs more than seven tonnes, or three and a half tonnes when empty. It was unclear if the vehicle was loaded at the time.