NINE people are rushed to hospital after horror bus smash, emergency chiefs reveal: Space is cleared in A&E after 52-seater crashes in ‘major incident’ sparking emergency air ambulance and road closures
Nine patients have been rushed to hospital by ambulance following after a 52-seater bus crashed on a bridge in Pembrokeshire today in what was declared a ‘major incident’.
The crash happened at about 2.20pm this afternoon on the Cleddau Bridge, which carries the A477 road over the River Cleddau between Neyland and Pembroke Dock.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue said crews were responding to a ‘road traffic collision involving one 52-seater bus and a private motor vehicle’.
One driver was severely trapped and many of the bus passengers are ‘suffering with various injuries’, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.
In a sign of how serious the incident may be, NHS Wales has advised members of the public to avoid attending local A&E unless they have life-threatening or serious injuries in order for medics to focus on treating those involved in the crash.
An air ambulance was photographed by member of the public attending the scene at Cleddau Bridge in south Wales
A police officer diverts traffic on the A477 road over Cleddau Bridge, following a crash of a 52-seater bus
Cleddau Bridge carries the A477 road over the River Cleddau in Pembrokeshire (file image)
Firefighters from the Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Narberth were called to the scene as well as the Air Ambulance and Dyfed Powys Police
Dyfed-Powys Police said the A477 between Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest was shut in both directions at the Cleddau Bridge. People were urged to avoid the area.
In an updated statement this evening, ambulance service said: ‘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.’
NHS Wales posted: ‘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 (e.g. from a car crash).
‘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.’
Cleddau Bridge on the A477 is closed in both directions due to the collision
Senedd member Samuel Kurtz wrote: ‘Very concerning news and hoping all involved are ok’
In a sign of how serious the incident may turn out to be, NHS Wales advised members of the public to avoid attending local A&E unless they have life-threatening or serious injuries
Frank Rowland posted on Facebook: ‘Just seen the air ambulance circling in the vicinity, hope it’s not too serious.’
Senedd member Samuel Kurtz wrote: ‘Very concerning news and hoping all involved are ok.
‘Special thanks to all our emergency services for reacting to this incident.
‘As of 4pm the bridge remains closed, so please avoid it until confirmation comes through that it has reopened.’
Wales’ First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has offered his thoughts to those affected by this afternoon’s incident. He tweeted ‘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.’
The long, wide, deep estuary of Milford Haven divides Pembrokeshire into two parts. The distance by road from Neyland on the north shore to Pembroke Dock on the south is 28 miles. The bridge opened to traffic in 1975. In the first year of operation approximately 885,900 vehicles used the bridge. By year ending March 2009 this number increased to 4,600,407 which is the highest figures recorded.
The current figure stands at 4.4 million vehicles per year.
Pembrokeshire Council has tweeted that the Cleddau Bridge is closed to all vehicles.