Major incident declared as passengers trapped after 52-seater-bus crash on bridge
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
A major incident has been declared as a 52-seater bus[1] has crashed in Pembrokeshire, leaving passengers injured and the driver trapped.
Paramedics rushed nine people to Withybush Hospital while another was transferred to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Emergency services were called to the Cleddau Bridge[2] at Pembroke Dock in west Wales[3] after a crash occurred at around 14.15pm between the bus and a car.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have said that “many passengers” have suffered injuries.
A 52-seater bus has collided with a car on Cleddau Bridge
(Geogaph/Stephen McKay/CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fire crews from around Pembrokeshire are in attendance as well as an air ambulance who are providing first aid to injured passengers.
The A477 between Pembroke Dock and Haverforwest is closed in both directions.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the 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. We transferred one patient to University Hospital of Wales, and a further nine patients to Withybush hospital for further treatment.”
The Hywel Dda Health Board have issued an urgent request for people to only attend A&E at Withybush Hospital if they are suffering from a life-threatening illness or injury.
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 (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. “
The fire and rescue service said: “At 2.19pm on Tuesday, September 5th, the Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Narberth crews were called to an incident on the Cleddau Bridge, Pembroke Dock.
“Crews responded to a road traffic collision involving one 52-seater bus and one private motor vehicle. Many of the bus passengers are suffering with various injuries.
“One driver is currently severely trapped, crews are currently working to extract the trapped driver as well as administering first aid. The Air Ambulance and Dyfed Powys Police are also in attendance.
“This has been declared a major incident which is currently ongoing, more information may be released when available.”
Meanwhile, Dyfed-Powys Police issued a brief statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) saying: “The road is currently closed between Honeyborough Roundabout to Pembroke Roundabout due to a road traffic collision.
“Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.”
The incident is ongoing and emergency services have said that more information will be released when available.
Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford tweeted: “Worrying to hear news of a major incident on the Cleddau Bridge. Details are still emerging.
“My thoughts are will all those involved and my thanks to the first responders and emergency services working at the scene.”
More follows on this breaking news story