A SPOTTER plane circled the A3 Berelands Junctions at Petersfield on Tuesday evening as police searched for passengers who may have been thrown from a Toyota 4x4.

Police say they have no idea how the vehicle left the road, close to the A272 sliproad, and are appealing for any witnesses to the incident.

The vehicle left the road at around 7-30 pm and is thought to have rolled several times before coming to rest in a ditch close to the main carriageway.

The driver and three passengers were injured. All four were taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

One lane of the northbound A3 was closed for three-and-a-half hours while police, fire and ambulance crews dealt with the incident.

The front seat passenger, a 56-year-old man from Eastney in Portsmouth, was thrown from the car and received serious head and chest injuries. He was transferred to the thoracic unit at Southampton General Hospital.

The other injured men were treated for slight injuries and left hospital later that day.

Hampshire Constabulary's spotter plane was used by police to check nearby verges to ensure that no one else had been thrown from the vehicle.

Cosham traffic sergeant John Geden said: "I would appeal to anyone who saw a dark coloured Toyota 4X4 travelling north on the A3 that night to contact police.

"At this time it is unclear what caused the vehicle to leave the road in such a manner."

Anyone with information can contact Cosham traffic police on 0845 0454545.