Cleddau Bridge: Man killed and coach driver hurt in crash
- By Chris Wood & Dafydd Morgan
- BBC News
5 September 2023
Updated 9 hours ago
Image source, Martin Cavaney
A man has been killed after the car he was driving crashed with a 52-seater coach.
The driver of the coach was taken to hospital with serious injuries following the crash near the Cleddau Bridge in west Wales on Tuesday.
Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed the driver of the car died at the scene and his next of kin are being supported.
Police said 24 of the coach passengers, tourists from Cumbria, were taken to hospital and have all been discharged.
A major incident was declared by fire crews after a driver was trapped and “many” bus passengers suffered injuries in the crash on Tuesday at 14:15 BST.
The main road between Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven has since reopened.
Titterington Holidays, based in Penrith, Cumbria, has confirmed its coach was involved in the crash.
One of the holiday firm owners Paul Titterington said the coach passengers were on a five-day trip and were a mix of ages.
Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford has said that it was “worrying to hear news of a major incident on the Cleddau Bridge” in Pembrokeshire.
“My thoughts are with all those involved and my thanks to the first responders and emergency services working at the scene,” he said.
“Crews responded to a road traffic collision involving one 52-seater bus and one private motor vehicle,” Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.
Fire crews cut free “a severely trapped driver” who was later flown to hospital by air ambulance.
“Several of the bus passengers suffered with various injuries and many of them were taken to hospital by road ambulances and police vehicles,” the statement added.
The air ambulance and five emergency land ambulances attended the scene on Tuesday afternoon as fire crews worked to free the trapped driver and also gave first aid to injured passengers.
The main A477 road from Pembroke Dock to Milford Haven and Haverfordwest was shut westbound for the remainder of Tuesday as accident investigation work was carried out but has since reopened.
Lauren Joseph was trying to cross the bridge after work, travelling to her home near Milford Haven just after the crash – and faced an hour-long, 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 said.
“I am currently doing 20mph on a 60mph because of the congestion caused by the crash.”
Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing with anyone with information relating to the incident to contact the force.