Wales bus crash horror: One dead and another in critical condition after bus collides with car
Cleddau Bridge at Pembroke Dock in west Wales
John Lucas
One person has died and another has been left in critical condition after a horrific crash between a bus and a car on a bridge.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene on the Cleddau Bridge at Pembroke Dock in west Wales.
The incident occurred around 2.15pm on Tuesday.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said “many passengers” from the bus had suffered injuries and a driver is currently trapped.
The bus is reportedly capable of carrying as many as 52 passengers.
At time of writing, air ambulance is at the scene and fire crews are working to free the trapped driver.
Cleddau Bridge
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They are also reportedly providing first aid to injured passengers.
Dyfed-Powys Police has said the A477 between Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest has been shut in both directions at the Cleddau Bridge between the Honeyborough and Pembroke roundabouts.
In a statement, they said: “Police are in attendance at a road traffic collision which occurred on the A477 near the Cleddau Bridge, Pembroke Dock at about 2.15pm today, Tuesday, September 5th.
“The A477 is currently closed between the Honeyborough roundabout and the Pembroke roundabout and road users are advised to take an alternative route.”
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The Welsh Ambulance Service has confirmed 10 people have been taken to two hospitals following the crash.
A statement from the Welsh Ambulance service reads: “We were called today, Tuesday 5 September, at approximately 2.14pm, to reports of a road traffic collision on the A477.
“We sent five emergency ambulances, one duty operations manager, one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and non-emergency patient transport service vehicles to the scene.
“We were supported by colleagues from the Wales Air Ambulance.
“We transferred one patient to University Hospital of Wales, and a further nine patients to Withybush hospital for further treatment.”
In a previous statement, Welsh Ambulance Service said: “We were called today, Tuesday 5 September, at approximately 2.14pm, to reports of a road traffic collision on the A477.
“We sent five emergency ambulances, one duty operations manager, one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and non-emergency patient transport service vehicles to the scene.
“We were supported by colleagues from the Wales Air Ambulance.”
The fire service stated that the Wales Air Ambulance and Dyfed-Powys Police were in attendance and that the driver was “severely trapped”.
At around 4.30pm, traffic is said to have reopened in both directions.
Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford took to social media following the incident.
He wrote: “It is worrying to hear news of a major incident on the Cleddau Bridge. Details are still emerging.
“My thoughts are with all those involved and my thanks to the first responders and emergency services working at the scene.”
One woman, Lauren Joseph, was reportedly trying to cross the bridge on her way home to Milford Haven from work but now reportedly faces a 35-mile diversion.
“As I got there the council advised me to go the long way around at the Carew roundabout due to an incident,” she told the BBC.
“I am currently doing 20mph on a 60mph because of the congestion caused by the crash.”
The local health trust in West Wales has also urged people not to attend Withybush Hospital Accident and Emergency as medics deal with major bus crash in Pembrokeshire.
They said: “We are aware of a serious road traffic incident affecting the Cleddau Bridge, near Neyland in Pembrokeshire.
“The incident is being managed by the relevant emergency services. In order for us to support the incident response, we’re asking people to only attend A&E at Withybush Hospital if you have a life-threatening illness or serious injury, such as: Severe breathing difficulties; severe pain or bleeding; chest pain or a suspected stroke or serious trauma injuries.
“To ensure that we can treat patients appropriately, we urge you to choose your healthcare services very carefully, so that we are only seeing people with urgent or emergency care needs in A&E.”
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