Youngsters setting off flares on the beach forced a coastguard helicopter to divert away from assisting with a motorway crash on Saturday night. A sea search was launched after red flares were spotted in Poole Bay.
The Solent Coastguard helicopter was on its way to an accident on the M27 in Hampshire when it was pulled away to deal with the incident.
After the air and sea search it was discovered that the flares had been fired by youngsters at a beach party.
A spokesman from Portland Coastguard said that setting off flares was highly irresponsible and illegal.
The young people responsible were spoken to by officials over the incident.
The people injured on the M27 were taken to hospital by ambulance but were not seriously injured.
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