Six people were taken to hospital and 19 others were injured after a bus carrying passengers overturned near Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, on Monday afternoon, prompting police to declare a major incident.
Crash Details and Emergency Response
The crash occurred shortly after 12:20 PM on the A484 near the Parc y Bocs roundabout, a key route connecting Kidwelly and Llandyfaelog. The bus, operating as the X11 service, left the road and landed on its side in a field. A major emergency response involving police, ambulance crews, and firefighters was launched, with emergency services spending hours freeing injured passengers from the wreckage. Local witnesses also joined the rescue effort.
Casualties and Medical Treatment
In a joint statement, Dyfed-Powys Police, the Welsh Ambulance Service, and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that 13 people were assessed and discharged at the scene, while six others were taken to hospital for further medical attention. No injuries were believed to be life-threatening. Police said all passengers had been safely removed from the vehicle and provided with appropriate care.
Welfare and Road Closures
Welfare arrangements were established at the John Burns Centre in Kidwelly, where those affected were offered support. The A484 between the Kidwelly roundabout at Parc y Bocs and Llandyfaelog remained closed throughout the evening, with motorists urged to avoid the area and use alternative routes. The road has since reopened, but investigations into the cause of the collision are continuing.
Statements from Officials and Operator
Zoe Hand, Managing Director of First Bus Franchising, which oversees services in Wales, said: "Our X11 service was involved in an incident earlier this afternoon on the A484 close to the junction with Old Forge Lane, near Kidwelly. A team from our depot at Ammanford travelled to the scene immediately to support our driver and look after our customers. The safety of everyone who travels with us is always our absolute priority and we are working with the police and ambulance service to care for those who need it and understand the circumstances which led to this incident."
Local MP Dame Nia Griffith expressed concern for those involved and praised the emergency personnel, saying: "My immediate thoughts are with all those people who were involved in the crash, and the emergency services who are helping them. I would reiterate the official request for the public to stay away and find alternative routes to the Parc y Bocs roundabout to Llandyfaelog Road."
Wales' First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, also thanked emergency responders in a social media post: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the major incident near Kidwelly today. Thank you to our emergency services, including police, ambulance, fire and NHS staff, for their swift and professional response, and to local authority teams supporting those involved."
