TWO women have died and another person is in hospital with non life-threatening injuries after a two-car accident on the A361 North Devon link road two-and-a-half miles north of South Molton at 11am today.
A woman driver of one of the cars died at the scene and at 5.30pm today Inspector Rob Curtis, of Devon and Cornwall Police, confirmed that a second woman from the other car had died of her injuries in Derriford Hospital in the past two hours.
At time of writing (6pm) the link road was still closed and police expected this to be the case for some time. Diversions are in place.
Inspector Curtis said: "I can confirm that a second person has died at Derriford Hospital.
"Traffic restrictions are still an issue in the area, while debris and oil are cleared up.
"We appreciate the support of the public and the inconvenience this is causing, but two people have lost their lives and we need to make a thorough investigation."
He added that next-of-kin had not been notified.
He said that neither of the vehicles were registered to the North Devon area, and one was not registered to the South West.
The incident is still being investigated, with specialist officers currently at the scene.
Devon and Somerset Firefighters were also on scene earlier, helping to free the casualties.
Earlier a police spokesman said two seriously injured casualties had been air lifted to Derriford Hospital by police helicopter and the road was expected to be closed for some time while a "thorough police investigation takes place".
"Diversions are in place and being managed by the Highways agency", he added.
PCSO Hannah Denton, of Barnstaple, said earlier that police had been taking statements from witnesses.
She added that traffic was being diverted through Landkey.
The road is still closed between Portmoor Roundabout in Barnstaple and South Molton.
Anyone with information concerning the incident should call police on 101, quoting log number 0351.
