Fatal Road Collision On A49 Near Shrewsbury

A man died and four other people were injured in a collision between a car and an ambulance near Shrewsbury this afternoon.

The collision happened shortly before 1.45pm on the A49 at Preston Brockhurst between Shrewsbury and Wem.

A woman passenger in the car was airlifted to hospital in Stoke with serious injuries.  The female driver of the West Midlands Ambulance Service vehicle, who was trapped for nearly two hours, was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

A woman patient in the back of the ambulance and a female paramedic who was tending her, were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.  They are not thought to be seriously injured.

The main A49 road was closed and diversions set up while the emergency services worked at the scene.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "A full investigation is being carried out to establish the circumstances leading up to this tragedy.

"We are appealing for witnesses to come forward if they saw either the collision or the vehicles involved being driven immediately beforehand.  They should contact Shrewsbury police station on 0300 333 3000."

The Shropshire coroner, Mr John Ellery has been informed.

Issued: Thursday, 02 August 2012