Fatal accident on Forest Road, Newport

The Island’s emergency services including ambulance, fire crews and police attended a fatal accident involving a No 7 double-decker Southern Vectis bus and two motor vehicles at the junction of Bettyhaunt Lane located on Newport’s Forest Road. 

It is reported that four air ambulances including services from surrounding counties were also called to the scene.

Sadly, a women in her 60’s who was driving a red Fiat Bravo died at the scene and three other passengers travelling in the car sustained serious injury.  The other vehicle involved was a silver Mini Cooper.  Four people were airlifted to mainland hospitals due to the seriousness of their injuries.

It is also reported that a number of passengers travelling in the bus also sustained various levels of injury and were taken to St Marys hospital.  A major incident was declared and plea was put out to Islanders to only attend A&E for serious cases.

It is understood that the driver of the bus who is believed to be in his 50’s has sustained life changing injuries.  The attending fire crews managed to extract the driver from the bus and he was immediately airlifted from the scene.  Police have asked anybody with information on the incident to contact them.  The road has been closed to traffic

UPDATE – Monday 15th April 2019 – 9.30 am.

Southern Vectis has released a statement saying that early indications suggest a car pulled out in front of a route seven bus and the driver was unable to avoid it.  The bus was forced into the path of another car.

If anyone witnessed the collision and hasn’t already spoken to police, please call 101 and quote reference 375 of April 14. If you saw any of the vehicles prior to the collision or have Dashcam footage of the vehicles or the incident, please get in touch.

It is understood that ten bus passengers were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Forest Road was closed for around 11 hours but has now reopened.

UPDATE – Monday 15th April 2019 – 9.45 am

A petition has been launched asking for the Isle of Wight Council to consider changes to improve the safety of the stretch of road urgently.  The petition can be signed online using the following link.

www.change.org/p/isle-of-wight-council-prevent-further-accidents-on-forest-road.