Police, fire and ambulance crews are attending a serious 2-car road traffic collision at Blackwater this lunchtime (Monday).
The incident, which occurred just before 12:30, has taken place at the junction with Blackwater Hollow, on the main Newport to Sandown road.
Island Echo understands a white Honda Jazz – thought to be turning into Blackwater Hollow at the time of impact – has come to a rest upside on its roof having been T-boned on the passenger side. A Suzuki 4×4, which is thought to have been travelling towards Newport, has sustained front end damage.
The road has been closed at Arreton from the junction with Downend Road. However, the road remains open for traffic heading out of Newport. Southern Vectis says that it’s Route 3 buses are unable to serve Rookley until further notice. Buses will instead divert via Merstone.
UPDATE @ 13:10 – The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has touched down at the roadside in Blackwater, indicating the severity of the incident. The yellow and green helicopter has landed in a field by Radcliffe’s fruit and veg.
So far 1 casualty has been conveyed to St Mary’s Hospital, with the extrication of 2 other casualties underway. It’s thought there may be a 4th casualty too. A dog, understood to be travelling in 1 of the vehicles, appears to have escaped injury.
A total of 4 fire engines from Newport, Cowes, Ryde and Shanklin are on scene alongside 3 ambulances and several Police units.
Southern Vectis Route 2 and 3 buses will now divert away from the area by operating via Mountjoy (Carisbrooke) and Highwood Lane (Rookley).
UPDATE @ 13:55 – At least 4 casualties have been tended to by paramedics, but no one is thought to have sustained any serious, life-threatening injuries. The air ambulance is now standing down from the incident and returning to its base in Andover, with all casualties conveyed by land to St Mary’s Hospital.
Firefighters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have extricated occupants from both vehicles involved in this afternoon’s crash, by means of roof removal.
Recovery of the Honda and Suzuki is underway and the road is expected to re-open in due course.
UPDATE @ 15:13 – The road has now re-opened in both directions.
Cars don’t crash themselves, “people do” that are totally unfit to drive, and there’s too many of them on our roads.
But most drivers will learn nothing and except accidents as part of driving, thinking it won’t affect them…
I thought there may have been a serious incident earlier as I wanted to turn onto Blackwater Chute from High Wood Lane. Hope all involved are okay and recover quickly
Having been on the Island again for a week’s holiday I’ve witnessed appalling driving, near misses and a rear end shunt. What on earth is wrong with these drivers?
The answer is quite simple really, people don’t look where they’re going and not concentrating on the road! Something which seems especially rife on this island…..
Agree, I live here and IOW drivers are the worst – hundreds of boy racers & old man motorcyclists both equally dangerously annoying.
I know, I had 2 cars, and a motorbike pass me in the most stupid of spots, not to mention slamming their brakes on for the sharp corners immediately after they had passed me, the 2nd car nearly got wiped out by an oncoming car on a sharp bend. the 1st car had to slam afterburners into full reverse thrust after overtaking me, and the bike overtaken me a bit more sensibly as he didn’t have to slam on as hard to get round the sharp bend.all I done was within the speed limit, no going way too slow (except for them). I didn’t have to do emergency stops for the sharp bends where they weren’t overtaking me. and wasn’t deliberately driving too slow for the road, and the conditions (which were dry), so just keeping to a fairly smooth consistant drive with only harsh braking happening because of those fools deciding to overtake just before a sharp bend, which if anything then that would tell someone to stay back not risk everyones life by overtaking on a blind sharp corner.
Pleased to hear that the unfortunate dog is OK..