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| Two M4 lanes reopen after coach crash on M4 around Newport | Two M4 lanes reopen after coach crash on M4 around Newport |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two lanes have reopened on the westbound carriageway of the M4 in Newport following an earlier crash involving a coach, lorry and car. | Two lanes have reopened on the westbound carriageway of the M4 in Newport following an earlier crash involving a coach, lorry and car. |
| Thirteen people were treated for injuries although they are not said to be life-threatening. | Thirteen people were treated for injuries although they are not said to be life-threatening. |
| A section of the motorway was shut in both directions from around 09:30 GMT although it partly reopened westbound about three hours later. | |
| The coach was carrying 44 students, who were taken to a nearby rest centre. | |
| The eastbound carriageway remains shut between junction 28 (Tredegar Park) and junction 24 (Coldra) as emergency services deal with the incident at junction 25 (Caerleon). | |
| Tailbacks stretched as far as the toll booths near the Severn bridges westbound and the Cardiff Gate junction eastbound. | |
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said it was receiving "walking wounded" casualties at the Royal Gwent Hospital's accident and emergency department in Newport, which was increasing pressure on staff. | Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said it was receiving "walking wounded" casualties at the Royal Gwent Hospital's accident and emergency department in Newport, which was increasing pressure on staff. |
| Several casualties have been treated for minor injuries in Newport and one has been admitted with more serious injuries, a spokesman for the health board added. | Several casualties have been treated for minor injuries in Newport and one has been admitted with more serious injuries, a spokesman for the health board added. |
| Two off-site triage centres have also been set up - at St Julian's clinic and Newport Centre. | Two off-site triage centres have also been set up - at St Julian's clinic and Newport Centre. |
| The driver of the bus has been flown to Morriston Hospital in Swansea while another casualty was treated at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. | |
| The drivers of the lorry and car were treated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. | |
| Nick Smith, of the Welsh Ambulance Service said: "We assessed and treated a number of causalities at the scene of the road traffic collision, 11 of which have been taken to hospitals across south Wales with varying degrees of injuries. | |
| "Incidents involving multiple casualties can be challenging, but staff both in our control room and on the frontline have worked hard with our emergency service colleagues, the local authority and local health board to provide immediate and seamless healthcare for patients. | |
| "The students involved in the collision have remained very calm while our clinicians have assessed and treated them, helping the situation to run smoothly." | |
| There are miles of tailbacks with many drivers reportedly making little progress since the crash, which happened on the eastbound carriageway. | |
| Mike Edwards, from Newport, was travelling behind a fire engine as it arrived at the scene. | Mike Edwards, from Newport, was travelling behind a fire engine as it arrived at the scene. |
| "Children were being escorted off the motorway via the slip road in a very well controlled fashion," he said. | "Children were being escorted off the motorway via the slip road in a very well controlled fashion," he said. |
| "The driver of the bus was visible and looked quite poorly but I could see him moving. | "The driver of the bus was visible and looked quite poorly but I could see him moving. |
| "It was a very shocking scene to witness." | "It was a very shocking scene to witness." |
| Creative and therapeutic art student Abbey Murphy is trying to get to an exam at the University of South Wales' Caerleon campus for 14:45 GMT. | Creative and therapeutic art student Abbey Murphy is trying to get to an exam at the University of South Wales' Caerleon campus for 14:45 GMT. |
| She had travelled just 700m on the A48(M) from Cardiff to Newport in just under two hours. | She had travelled just 700m on the A48(M) from Cardiff to Newport in just under two hours. |
| "It's absolutely ridiculous, I've never been stuck in a traffic jam like it," she said. | "It's absolutely ridiculous, I've never been stuck in a traffic jam like it," she said. |
| Alex McDonald, who is trying to get to work in Bristol, told BBC Wales: "I've been stuck on the A48 near Cardiff for the best part of an hour and the signs say there are delays rather than the motorway being shut. | Alex McDonald, who is trying to get to work in Bristol, told BBC Wales: "I've been stuck on the A48 near Cardiff for the best part of an hour and the signs say there are delays rather than the motorway being shut. |
| "We're basically being parked here just to keep the traffic okay elsewhere. | "We're basically being parked here just to keep the traffic okay elsewhere. |
| "There is no movement whatsoever. It's annoying when the signs don't give any indication of what's happening." | "There is no movement whatsoever. It's annoying when the signs don't give any indication of what's happening." |
| Another motorist, Kash Amin, has been trying to get to his business in Newport from Cardiff. | Another motorist, Kash Amin, has been trying to get to his business in Newport from Cardiff. |
| He said he had only been travelling a short distance on the motorway before it ground to a halt. | He said he had only been travelling a short distance on the motorway before it ground to a halt. |
| "People are getting frustrated," he said. "I've only moved 100m in the past 70 minutes. | "People are getting frustrated," he said. "I've only moved 100m in the past 70 minutes. |
| Diversions | |
| "I've got staff and two shops that are closed." | "I've got staff and two shops that are closed." |
| The eastbound carriageway remains shut while accident investigations take place and motorists are advised to avoid the area. | |
| Diversions are in place via the A48 Southern distributor road. | Diversions are in place via the A48 Southern distributor road. |
| Ch Insp Paul Evans, of Gwent Police, said: "We appreciate the closure is causing problems for motorists however the decision to do so is never taken lightly and we fully recognise the impact this has on motorists as well as the communities affected by diversions. | Ch Insp Paul Evans, of Gwent Police, said: "We appreciate the closure is causing problems for motorists however the decision to do so is never taken lightly and we fully recognise the impact this has on motorists as well as the communities affected by diversions. |
| "We need to ensure we investigate every such collision thoroughly, gathering all evidence possible, and also ensuring the safety of everyone involved as well as other motorists who will be using this road once it's reopened." | "We need to ensure we investigate every such collision thoroughly, gathering all evidence possible, and also ensuring the safety of everyone involved as well as other motorists who will be using this road once it's reopened." |
| Did you see what happened when the bus crashed? Were you caught up in the tailbacks as a result? If so, please get in touch by emailing newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk and we will publish a selection of your comments. | Did you see what happened when the bus crashed? Were you caught up in the tailbacks as a result? If so, please get in touch by emailing newsonline.wales@bbc.co.uk and we will publish a selection of your comments. |