AN investigation is under way after a police car crashed into a van as it made its way to an emergency call.

The silver Ford Transit panel van was forced across the road into traffic lights, knocking them to the ground and putting them out of action.

A busy Bournemouth road was closed for nearly two hours following the dramatic crash just after 7pm on Monday. There were no serious injuries.

And there was chaos at the scene on Tuesday morning as rush hour traffic and pedestrians attempted to negotiate the busy crossroads without the aid of traffic lights.

Pedestrians, including families on their way to the nearby Linwood School, were having difficulty crossing the road and traffic was queueing on Heron Court Road on both sides of Alma Road.

The crash happened at the junction of Alma Road and Heron Court Road in Winton, knocking down traffic lights next to Winton Methodist Church.

A witness told the Daily Echo: “I think the van was attempting to turn into Heron Court Road when the crash took place.

“It was forced across the road and crashed into the lights. It was lucky that no one was badly hurt because it looked quite serious.”

Another said: “It looked like the police car was on its way to some kind of emergency but I’m not sure exactly how it happened.

“The police car was badly damaged so it was lucky that no one was injured.”

He said emergency services, including police and ambulance vehicles, were on the scene until around 9pm when the junction was re-opened to traffic.

One police officer was taken to hospital for assessment but the driver of the van, a local man in his 30s, was not hurt.

Damaged traffic lights were cordoned off and left on the pavement.

Thee are no current plans to refer the accident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the accident does not meet the necessary criteria or mandatory referral for death or serious injury following police contact.

But the police spokesman added: “We will be reviewing the circumstances of the collision.

“If it is viewed necessary, it will be referred in due course.”