A person has died and another remains in critical condition after a 52-seater bus crashed in Pembrokeshire, with several others taken to hospital.
Paramedics rushed nine people to Withybush Hospital while the bus driver was transferred via air ambulance to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Emergency services were called to the Cleddau Bridge at Pembroke Dock in west Wales after a crash occurred at around 14.15 between the bus and a car.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have said that “many passengers” have suffered injuries.
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Several passengers onboard the 52-seater bus were injured— (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.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police 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 collision involved a car and a coach. Sadly, one person has died. Next of kin have been advised and are being supported by officers.
“One person was taken to hospital in a critical condition. A number of passengers on the coach were taken to hospital with various levels of injuries.”
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.”
Firecrews from Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Narberth crews attended the scene and assisted with a “severely trapped” driver.
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.”
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