Police, fire and ambulance crews are in attendance at Whippingham this lunchtime (Tuesday) where multiple vehicles have been involved in a collision near the junction of Alverstone Road.
Several fire appliances from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are on scene, alongside multiple resources from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has said the service is responding to what is believed to be 2 persons trapped.
2 cars and a van are said to have been involved in this afternoon’s crash.
Whippingham Road is currently blocked in both directions and traffic is heavy in the area. Southern Vectis buses are on diversion as a result.
UPDATE @ 13:27 – Police have closed Whippingham Road between Racecourse Roundabout and the northern junction of Alverstone Road (near Folly Lane).
The road is likely to be closed for some time and motorists are advised the avoid the area until further notice.
Traffic is currently diverting to and from East Cowes via Alverstone Road, which is likely to become heavy through the sheer volume of traffic using this route.
Motorists attending the Red Funnel ferry should allow extra time for their journeys. The floating bridge is currently in operation.
UPDATE @ 13:45 – 3 ambulance crews, a rapid response paramedic and several senior officers are on scene tending to the occupants of the vehicles involved. 3 fire appliances, 2 fire officers, the Incident Command Unit and the Rescue Tender are also in attendance, alongside at least 6 police vehicles.
1 fire appliance from Ryde has since been stood down from the crash and the crew are returning to station.
Southern Vectis has provided an update for bus passengers:
“Route 4 and 5 are unable to serve stops between Crematorium and East Cowes. Customers for East Cowes may travel to Newport and transfer to out route 1”
Traffic is extremely heavy in the area, which is not helped by temporary traffic lights on Lushington Hill which are causing tailbacks down Fairlee Road coming from the Newport direction.
Vehicles leaving East Cowes are circumnavigating the crash by using country lanes down Alverstone Road and Brocks Copse Road towards Wootton.
UPDATE @ 15:00 – Collision investigators from the mainland have now arrived on the Island to piece together the moments leading up to the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call Police on 101 with reference 0861 of today’s date.
UPDATE @ 17:05 – Police say they hope to have the road re-open by around 19:30 this evening.
Roads remain closed in the area and light traffic is being diverted via Brocks Copse Road. However, HGVs are not able to take this route due to the narrow nature of the roads.
UPDATE @ 19:50 – 2 men in their 20s and from Cowes have been killed in this afternoon’s crash, Police have confirmed.
Read more on this development at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/2-islanders-killed-and-another-injured-in-fatal-crash-at-whippingham/.
