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| M4 crash: 28 taken to hospital after collision near Cardiff | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Twenty-eight people have been taken to hospital following two crashes involving a small coach and six vehicles on the M4 near Cardiff. | |
| The road was shut between junction 33 Capel Llanilltern and junction 34 Miskin after two accidents on both sides of the motorway. It is now open. | |
| One woman was airlifted to hospital and another 27 people were taken to three hospitals by ambulance. | |
| Traffic had queued for miles after the 11:50 GMT crash. | |
| There is still disruption on the motorway and some of the roads leading to it, according to Traffic Wales. | |
| South Wales Police said the first accident happened after the coach - which was carrying pensioners from Maesteg to see the Top Hat musical in Cardiff - was in a collision with four other cars on the eastbound carriageway. | |
| Twenty eight people were injured and were taken to hospital at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, the Royal Glamorgan at Llantrisant and the Princess of Wales in Bridgend either by road or air ambulance. | |
| Most were classed as 'walking wounded' but six of them were more serious, although none are believed to have life threatening or life changing injuries, the force added. | |
| The Princess of Wales hospital urged people to avoid its A&E unit as it dealt with 13 of the casualties, who were mainly women. | |
| A spokeswoman said nobody was seriously injured. | |
| A few minutes after the first crash, a vehicle towing another one overturned on the westbound carriageway. There were no injuries in this collision. | |
| FIRST ON THE SCENE: Fireman Lee Morley | FIRST ON THE SCENE: Fireman Lee Morley |
| The 27 year old from Swansea was driving westbound when he saw the crash happen. | The 27 year old from Swansea was driving westbound when he saw the crash happen. |
| "All of a sudden I saw on the other side (of the road) a lot of queuing stationary traffic to go up to the sliproad," he said. | "All of a sudden I saw on the other side (of the road) a lot of queuing stationary traffic to go up to the sliproad," he said. |
| "Then the minibus went into the back of a car, the car then went into the back of a Range Rover and that then went into another car, which spun out and scrunched." | "Then the minibus went into the back of a car, the car then went into the back of a Range Rover and that then went into another car, which spun out and scrunched." |
| Mr Morley immediately pulled into the hard shoulder. | Mr Morley immediately pulled into the hard shoulder. |
| "I jumped over the barrier and a woman in the car which spun out was breathing but unconscious. But I got her to come round by talking to her and doing what I'm trained to do," he said. | "I jumped over the barrier and a woman in the car which spun out was breathing but unconscious. But I got her to come round by talking to her and doing what I'm trained to do," he said. |
| "An off-duty nurse then took over from me while I then helped other walking wounded. | "An off-duty nurse then took over from me while I then helped other walking wounded. |
| "It was crazy and surreal." | "It was crazy and surreal." |
| Mr Morley said two air ambulances attended and one took the injured woman to University Hospital of Wales (UHW). | Mr Morley said two air ambulances attended and one took the injured woman to University Hospital of Wales (UHW). |
| "There were children standing on the side of the road, they had been in the cars caught up in it," he said. | "There were children standing on the side of the road, they had been in the cars caught up in it," he said. |
| "The minibus was full of pensioners and I think they were on their way to see the musical Top Hat in Cardiff. They were mainly walking wounded with some significant cuts and bruises." | "The minibus was full of pensioners and I think they were on their way to see the musical Top Hat in Cardiff. They were mainly walking wounded with some significant cuts and bruises." |
| Eyewitnesses caught up in the disruption said traffic was gridlocked following the crashes. | |
| Cory Richards, 20, from Swansea, who is a student at Cardiff University, said he saw a 29-seater coach crash into the side of a Land Rover, which hit the car in front. | Cory Richards, 20, from Swansea, who is a student at Cardiff University, said he saw a 29-seater coach crash into the side of a Land Rover, which hit the car in front. |
| "I could see three cars in the pile up, one car overturned," he said | "I could see three cars in the pile up, one car overturned," he said |
| Tom Stoneman, 25, from Llanelli but living in Bristol, said he saw lots of walking wounded who were on the motorway looking for help. | Tom Stoneman, 25, from Llanelli but living in Bristol, said he saw lots of walking wounded who were on the motorway looking for help. |
| "I saw five cars involved, a big Land Rover and Corsa were in the middle of the motorway with a lot of damage and facing the wrong way." | "I saw five cars involved, a big Land Rover and Corsa were in the middle of the motorway with a lot of damage and facing the wrong way." |
| He added there were "hundreds and hundreds of cars" at a standstill in the tailback stretching back up to six miles. | He added there were "hundreds and hundreds of cars" at a standstill in the tailback stretching back up to six miles. |
| Craig Lewis said he was stuck for two hours between junctions 34 and 35. | Craig Lewis said he was stuck for two hours between junctions 34 and 35. |
| "It's gridlocked on the inside of the eastbound lane," he added. | "It's gridlocked on the inside of the eastbound lane," he added. |
| BBC producer Margaret Keenan, who was stuck for more than an hour, said: "I could see several people standing by the side of the road, clearly distressed. | BBC producer Margaret Keenan, who was stuck for more than an hour, said: "I could see several people standing by the side of the road, clearly distressed. |
| "There were several ambulances and at least seven police cars." | "There were several ambulances and at least seven police cars." |
| The pensioners on the coach were heading to the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay to see a matinee show of the musical Top Hat. | |
| A spokeswoman said many people missed the first half of the afternoon performance because they were caught up in the disruption. | |
| "We are extremely saddened that what was to be a lovely afternoon at the theatre for a large group from Maesteg turned out to be such a frightening and shocking experience," she added. | |
| Anyone who witnessed the collision involving the bus and who has not already given their details to police is asked to contact South Wales Police on 101. | |
| Have you been affected by the accident on the M4? If it is safe to do so you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Have you been affected by the accident on the M4? If it is safe to do so you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Have your say | Have your say |
| Send your pictures and videos (only if it is safe to do so) to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos (only if it is safe to do so) to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international). Or you can upload here. |
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