A LORRY DRIVER was killed and a van driver suffered serious injuries in two separate crashes which closed the A38 near Exeter.

Emergency services were called to the road at 6.10am on Saturday morning after an 11-tonne Isuzu HGV was involved in a single-vehicle collision between Chudleigh Station and Harcombe Bends.

The lorry, which had been travelling towards Plymouth, went out of control and crossed the central reservation, and ended up on its side on the opposite carriageway.

The driver, a 32-year-old man from Torquay, sustained fatal injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Then at 7.10am, officers received a report of a second crash on Haldon Hill near Exeter Racecourse.

A silver Vauxhall Astra van travelling towards Plymouth crashed into the rear of an HGV which was caught up in traffic from the first incident.

The van driver, a 36-year-old man from Ivybridge, received serious head and leg injuries and was airlifted to Derriford Hospital.

The lorry driver was unhurt.

The A38 was closed in both directions for around eight hours while officers from the Serious Collisions Investigation Team carried out an examination of the scenes.

Anyone who saw either collision is asked to contact the Roads Policing Team on 101 or email: 101@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk quoting log 0159 [HGV collision] or 0167 [Astra collision], both of 09/04/16.