Woman dies in car crash on the way back from sister's funeral

Tereasa Cutler was declared dead in the mangled wreckage of her Ford Fiesta after the collision, which also left her sibling's 19-year-old grieving son and her own two children seriously injured.

Just two hours earlier the quartet had attended the funeral of Patricia Woodland, an ambulance paramedic, who died after an illness last month.

Mrs Cutler's Fiesta car was unrecognisable following the horrific smash with a black BMW 3 Series on the A31 at Wimborne, Dorset.

The 49-year-old's son, Daniel, 16, and nephew, Joe Woodland, who were in the back of the car, were airlifted from the scene.

Mrs Cutler's daughter Alice, 18, who had been in the front passenger seat, was taken to hospital by road ambulance.

On Friday it was understood that the three teenagers had been told of Mrs Cutler's death.

The occupants of the BMW, two men aged 24 and 21 from Dorchester, also suffered serious injuries.

The family from Ringwood, Hampshire, had been paying their respects to Mrs Woodland of Fordingbridge, an ambulance technician for South Western Ambulance Service, who died from an illness in May.

More than 50 paramedics had turned out in their green uniforms and formed a guard of honour in tribute at the funeral, while the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance performed a fly-past.

Tragically, some of the paramedics at the funeral were later sent to the crash scene at 4.20pm to deal with the fatal incident, about four miles away from where the service was in Poole.

Tributes were today flooding in for Mrs Cutler, who was widowed.

Cheryl Bastin said: "So so sad R.I.P Tereasa still can't believe you were taken from us, will miss you and you will be forever in our hearts. My love goes out to three children and family xxxx."

The Ford Fiesta was involved in a head-on smash with a BMW on the A31, just four miles from where the funeral had taken place

Karen Gale wrote: "I met such a lovely family when I attended the funeral. Wish her children and nephew a speedy recovery. RIP my sweet."

A spokesperson from the South Western Ambulance Service said staff wished to offer their 'sincere condolences to the family and friends of those involved in the tragic crash.

"We are providing support to our staff at this difficult time."

Rachel Lawton, manager of the Harbour View Woodland Burial Ground where Mrs Woodland's funeral was held on Wednesday, said she was shocked and upset when she heard the news.

She said: "It's terrible and our thoughts and condolences go out to the family. It's just unbelievable. I saw about the crash on the news but obviously didn't realise what had happened until the next day."

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed they were called to a head-on crash on June 10, at around 4.15pm.

Inspector Matt Butler, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: "I am appealing to anyone who saw either vehicle prior to or at the time of the collision to please contact me on 101."