** UPDATE – 1 dead and 19 injured in major incident. Read the latest updates at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/1-dead-and-19-injured-in-bus-crash/. **
Emergency services are responding to a serious crash, which has involved 2 cars and a double-decker bus, on Forest Road on the outskirts of Newport this afternoon (Sunday).
The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are rushing to the scene where it is thought there is at least one individual trapped.
At least 3 police vehicles and 2 ambulances have been mobilised to the incident, with more emergency vehicles en-route.
Traffic is heavy on the Vittlefields Cross junction. Motorists should avoid the area.
The incident occurred at around 13:00.
UPDATE @ 13:15 – Police have closed Forest Road, Betty Haunt Lane and Whitehouse Road as a result of the incident which has occurred on Vittlefields Cross.
2 appliances from Newport, 1 from Cowes and a special appliance from Newport have been called to the scene. Appliances from Ryde and fire officers have also been mobilised to the incident.
The bus involved – a Southern Vectis double decker – was in service and is said to have had passengers on board.
Southern Vectis is advising Route 7 via Shalfleet will be diverted via Calbourne and Elm Lane to Shalfleet in both directions.
The road is likely to remain closed for some time.
Eyewitnesses have said CPR is being given to one of the injured parties at the roadside.
UPDATE @ 13:37 – An air ambulance from Kent, Surrey and Sussex is now on scene with onboard doctors and paramedics tending to the most seriously injured.
Multiple casualties have been injured in the incident according to a spokesperson from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
MAJOR INCIDENT DECLARED
UPDATE @ 14:15 – A major incident has now been declared by the emergency services.
3 air ambulances – 1 from Thames Valley and 2 from Kent, Surrey and Sussex have landed at the roadside and it is thought another air ambulance has landed at St Mary’s Hospital.
Collision Investigators from the mainland have arrived at Forest Road in the past few minutes. They are expected to remain on scene for several hours.
Patient Transport vehicles are being utilised to transfer the walking wounded to St Mary’s Hospital.
A number of CID officers from Hampshire Constabulary have been present at the scene, which is situated between Shalfleet and Newport.
UPDATE @ 15:05 – 25 to 30 casualties have been involved in this afternoon’s incident, which has led to extra staff being drafted in at St Mary’s Hospital.
Island Echo is told mainland fire appliances have been mobilised to the scene and an extra officer has been recalled to duty.
A number of collision investigators are now in attendance and are working to piece together the events of this serious incident.
1 air ambulance has airlifted a casualty to the mainland. The other 2 air a,bulances remain on the ground.
UPDATE – 1 person has died and 19 people have been injured as a result of today’s major incident.
Clearly a major incident, no services will declare one
Happened within minutes before I got there. Looks very bad. I was told what happened by an eye witness who was on the bus, but I will not post it on here.
I hope everyone is ok .I feel the driving on the island is very bad especially when a lot of people in vans, lorries and cars are rushing to get to the ferries seen quiet a few near misses on that road and towards Yarmouth
Can anyone confirm the makes of cars,cant get hold of my wife’s mum,she drives a red Peugeot 307.
Im fine thanks
We lived at Vittlefields when I was a girl and there were so many crashes on that crossroads that we had emergency instructions and packs of towels to cope with the bloody injured. There were crashes almost every few weeks in summer surely something can be done at this accident black spot. Sign it an accident black spot, speed limit, warnings on both the side roads. DO SOMETHING.
Totally Agree Pauline !!!
The Council should be ashamed of themselves…this SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED!!! For years this has been an accident waiting to happen.
We Drove Past And Glass Was Scattered Everywhere