Pembrokeshire bus crash: one dead and several others rushed to hospital after collision on Cleddau Bridge

One person has sadly died and another is in a critical condition after a car and a 52-seater bus collided on a bridge in Wales.

Several passengers were rushed to hospital after the crash, which took place at around 2:15pm on Tuesday (5 September), on the Cleddau Bridge at Pembroke Dock in west Wales.

Fire crews declared a ‘major incident’ after attending the scene and discovering that one of the drivers was “severely trapped” in the wreckage - and “many” of the passengers had suffered injuries.

Dyfed-Powys Police posted an update on Facebook late on Tuesday, saying: “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 varying levels of injuries.”

The local health board Hywel Dda has requested on social media that people only attend A&E at Withybush Hospital if suffering from a life-threatening illness or injury - in order to allow staff to respond to the “serious road traffic incident”.

Five fire crews - from Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Tenby and Narberth - initially attended the scene, but some have since left after police stood down the major incident alert.

“Crews extricated a severely trapped driver who was then taken to hospital by air ambulance,” a fire service spokesman said. “Several of the bus passengers suffered with various injuries and many of them were taken to hospital by road ambulances and police vehicles.

“This was declared a major incident but is has since been stood down. Road traffic collision equipment, HGV platform and trauma packs were all extensively used throughout this incident.”

The A477 from Pembroke Dock to Milford Haven and Haverfordwest remains shut westbound, but Pembrokeshire Council has said that the bridge is partially open eastbound - although “can only be accessed via Burton”. In a statement, they added: “Roads are expected to be extremely busy, please take extra care.”

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said after the incident was first reported: “We were called 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.”

Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford described the news of the crash in Pembrokeshire as “worrying” - adding that his thoughts are with those involved.

Mr Drakeford posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “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.”