Horrified witnesses tell of ‘loud bang’ as three killed when car ‘ploughed into pedestrian & house’ on packed seafront
HORRIFIED witnesses have described hearing a “loud bang” as three people were killed when a car reportedly ploughed into a house on a packed seafront.
North Wales Police said the crash involved a grey Audi A8 and two pedestrians in Beaumaris on Anglesey shortly after 2.45pm on Wednesday.
The male driver, in his 80s, and tw pedestrians, a man and woman in their 60s, were pronounced dead at the scene in Alma Street which runs along the seafront past Beaumaris Pier.
The bustling seaside town had been full of holidaymakers when witnesses claimed the Audi driver lost control.
It has been reported the driver “swerved to go around a horse and carriage” before mounting the pavement.
Locals said the vehicle then struck pedestrians before smashing into a house.
One terrified resident said on social media: “It happened right in front of us on the road beside the pier.
“It’s an utter tragedy for those directly affected by the crash. No warning, it happened completely out of the blue.”
Another claimed: “The Audi seemed to come out of nowhere.
“It swerved to go around a horse and carriage, mounted the pavement.
“There are people standing around in shock, they can’t believe what has happened.”
Someone else said the collision involved “a car hitting a pedestrian and then hitting a house”.
The Beaumaris resident was in a hotel overlooking the scene and was alerted to the incident by a “loud bang”.
She said she watched “people trying very, very hard to do CPR”.
The Audi seemed to come out of nowhere.
“It was just awful, the ambulance took ages to get here and when the police and the vehicles eventually came… there was nothing they could do once they got here,” she said.
“(The vehicle) was so mangled. It’s so mangled it’s not true.
“Everybody really rallied around, diverting the traffic and trying their best to give the people dignity, but it was pretty horrific.”
She added: “The town is absolutely full of tourists and people walk down that street. It’s just a beautiful, beautiful place.”
In a statement on Thursday, a police spokesman said: “Members of the public and the emergency services responded, however, despite the best efforts of all involved, the male driver of the Audi, and the male and female pedestrians, were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“The driver of the Audi was aged in his 80s and was local to the North Wales area.
“The male and female pedestrians were aged in their 60s and were not local to the North Wales area.”
Sergeant Emlyn Hughes from the force’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “Our deepest condolences remain with the families of the three who were fatally injured.
“All are now being supported by specially trained family liaison officers.
“We continue to appeal to anybody who may have witnessed the incident that hasn’t already spoken to officers, or anybody who may have dash cam or front door camera footage, to please get in touch.
“Yesterday’s collision will have had a profound effect, not only on the families of all those involved, but also to the wider community of Beaumaris.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that assisted at the scene and those, including local businesses, who offered a place of refuge for all those involved.
“We would urge people not to speculate regarding the circumstances of the collision, and if anybody has information relating to the collision, and who is yet to speak to us, they are urged to contact us as soon as possible.”