TWO drivers were killed yesterday in a horror crash just north of Powys involving three vehicles – a stock wagon, a goods lorry and a car.
The accident happened at about 4.15pm on a bridge above the River Ceiriog on the A483/A5 at Chirk. The road remains closed - and could remain closed until at least Wednesday due to structural damage to the viaduct.
The two men who died were the driver of a silver Mercedes E200 estate car and the driver of a double deck Volvo articulated livestock carrier. Both men have yet to be formally identified. A Volvo tri-axle articulated tanker was also involved. The driver was treated at the scene for a minor head injury.
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward. "We want to hear from anyone who either saw the collision or the circumstances leading up to it," said a West Mercia Police spokesperson. "They should contact Oswestry police station on 0300 333 3000 with any information which might assist the investigation.
The spokesperson added: "This was an horrendous impact . There is still considerable work to be completed at the scene in recovering the vehicles and making the area safe for traffic to use. The A5 will be re-opened as quickly as possible but at the moment, it is not possible to say when this will be.
"It is likely to remain closed throughout today."
It's thought the car was travelling south from Wales into Shropshire. The two lorries are believed to have been heading in the opposite direction into Wales.
Emergency services personnel also had to deal with stricken cattle thrown out of the stock wagon in the collision. A police firearms officer had to put down at least one cow because of the extensive injuries it suffered.
Diversions were set up through Chirk and the smash brought chaos to the evening rush-hour traffic flow as commuters tried to make their way home from work. Large queues of vehicles built up along the routes involved.
A spokesman for West Mercia Police, which is leading the investigation into the tragedy, said: “At this stage we can’t provide any further details regarding the two fatalities. No formal identification has taken place yet."
The names of the two men who died are unlikely to be released today. Police are continuing efforts to trace relatives and no formal identification has been made.
The spokesperson added: “Concerning the cattle, at least one beast was humanely dispatched by an armed officer to prevent it suffering unnecessarily.”
He said police officers and fire service officers were working in liaison to try to rescue a number of other cows which had been travelling in the cattle truck.
Among the rescue crews who attended the accident, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent personnel from Chirk, Colwyn Bay and Wrexham.
A spokesman for the ambulance service said another patient had sustained a head injury in the collision but declined to be taken to hospital for treatment.