A road traffic collision between a rapid response ambulance and a taxi has forced the closure of Newport’s Fairlee Road in both directions this lunchtime (Sunday).
Emergency services are currently on scene on the main road in and out of Newport near to where the speed limit changes from 40 to 30.
It’s here that a marked Isle of Wight Ambulance Service rapid response car – a Skoda Kodiaq – has collided head on with a Ford Transit taxi, causing significant front end damage to both vehicles.
Emergency services – including Police, fire and ambulance crews – were called to the scene at around 12:45.
All traffic, including Route 5 and 9 Southern Vectis buses, is being diverted via Staplers Road in both directions until further notice.
UPDATE @ 13:45 – 2 people have been conveyed to St Mary’s Hospital, but thankfully their injuries are not considered life-threatening.
1 person has sustained an injury to their arm, whilst the other casualty is reported to have whip lash type injuries.
The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service has been approached for a statement with further information on the circumstances of the crash expected shortly.
Island Echo understands the ambulance car was responding to an emergency call on blue lights at the time of impact.
Recovery of the 2 vehicles has been arranged and the road is expected to reopen as soon as the recovery operation is complete.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are underway.
UPDATE @ 15:45 – Fairlee Road has now reopened in both directions.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service has told Island Echo:
“At 12.43 today an Isle of Wight Ambulance Service Rapid Response vehicle on blue lights and sirens was involved in a collision with another car on Fairlee Road in Newport.
“Two people have been conveyed to St Mary’s Hospital.
“An Ambulance was sent to the Patient that the Rapid Response Vehicle was on route too”.
Positive. One let’s hope all will make full recovery
negative note
what the heck are the police doing there position of where the close the road and divert traffic coming from the crem also from Newport is unbelievable , education on traffic management is a must on this occasion
Oh dear someone is injured and it was inconvenient for Steph.
It’s easy to sit back and criticise Steph try doing it fast time and see how good YOU are.
The same happened a couple of weeks ago with car fire near prison, the police are crap once they get out of car
Maybe because there not fireman and can only do what they can with the tools available. Bit like your not a Lord trotting around your estate munching on cheeznham
Traffic Management does not exist on the island.
Parking on Pavements, Double yellow lines and turning into
NO right Turn Roads is common on the island
Just like speeding is accepted.
The Island is a joke, also am I the only person who have noticed
Taxi drivers think they are the 4th Emergency service!
Watch them when they are in Tesco Car Park Ryde, the speed they
drive at is dangerous
good old island driving
Investigation? Why is the taxi on the ambulances side if the road?
Thats what ive been thinking.
Because after the two vehicles spun around after colliding, that is where it came to rest. The paramedic car is the one that was on the wrong side of the road, it was heading away from Newport.
maybe one of them had to pass a person(sorry a road owner on a bike )
Lets thank all that attended this horrible scene and to the second ambulance crew which was on location within minutes they are all heroes and work extremely hard to keep this island safe
Just like Police, Fire service, Ambulances and Rapid Response vehicles, although they are motoring to get to their incident, they should still abide by the rules of the road and consider other road users safety.
How do you know that they weren`t?
Lets hope one day you don’t need a rapid response policeman or a ambulance. Thats what they do they get to a incident fast to help and assist in crimes or accidents, maybe minutes to spare for life or death. Grow up Mr real sunshine
people deserve to die
Every time one of those guys get behind a wheel, they risk their own lives to try to save another. Respect to all emergency services! Maybe be more thankful it wasn’t your loved ones or yourself they were trying to get to.
Very best wishes to our hero keyworker ambulance staff, so highly skilled and trained, who we rely on in times of need. And ofc to the taxi driver and any passengers.
Highly skilled….. except in driving maybe
Tim but dim
Be interested to find the cause of the collision as, from the photos it would APPEAR the Taxi’s on the wrong side of the road.
Too soon to jump to conclusions though!
And there was me thinking two vehicles had collided trying to miss the potholes in that bit of road.
I’m not surprised. He nearly hit me head on too. I had to slam the brakes on as he was overtaking on a bend. if I had a dash cam I would of reported him
Who? The taxi or the rapid response car?
The rapid response car. Came round corner on wrong side of the road
lucky your the islands number 1 driver
Thanks buddy I appreciate the compliment
The ambulance will have a dash cam, hopefully,
The ambulance service driver training is woeful at best. The only decent trainer retired.
Aww I remember you u was the little man with a little pecker running around
As someone who was waiting for the road to clear I did think the police were a bit slow closing the road as I watched endless cars and a bus turning in the road. We waited till the road was clear because our home was just the other side of the crash and going the other way would just leave us in a queue the other side. Glad no one was seriously hurt.
Two so called professional drivers.
One straight piece of road.
Someone is for the high jump, that’s for sure!
I wouldn’t call taxi drivers professional drivers lol
If they drive for a living like a taxi driver does they are a professional driver.
Spare a thought for the incident the paramedic didnt get to will ya guys
I’ve heard the taxi was overtaking a car because it wasn’t going fast enough for his liking
That’s generally why people overtake.
That taxi is often driven by a dickhead driver, hopefully the driver will be off the road for a long time.
I’ve seen that taxi being driven very poorly in the past
If the taxi was being driven by “Freddy” a known drug dealer from the taxi and drug driver himself being doing it for years hope he has karma now
I watched a woman pull out in front of the rapid response vehicle coming down the duel in Newport. If it wasn’t for the quick thinking of the paramedic she would have been dead. People are not aware or just don’t think nowadays. Hope all are well.