Four trapped in Shrewsbury bus crash

Four people were left trapped and an elderly couple seriously injured in a crash between a bus and two cars in Shrewsbury.

A number of people also suffered minor injuries in the collision in Monkmoor Road.

Three people were released from their cars before fire crews arrived, but an elderly woman had to be cut free. Seven people were on the bus, a number of whom were left with minor injuries.

The incident happened between Ashley Street and Racecourse Crescent at about 3pm yesterday and left part of Monkmoor Road closed for several hours.

Police began reopening the road at about 9.25pm.

The elderly couple, believed to be in their 70s, were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Keith Myatt, spokesman for bus company Arriva, said: "Four passengers opted to leave the bus and three remained on board and were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

"We will be carrying out internal investigation into the crash and we will also be working with police, who will be carrying investigations of their own."

Police cordoned off a 100 yard section of the road for collision investigation units to carry out a study.

Three fire crews were sent from Shrewsbury along with one rescue pump and a rescue tender from Wellington.

Ray Harrison, force duty inspector with West Mercia Police, said: "Police were called at 3.12pm to a three-vehicle collision, which involved an Arriva bus and two privately owned cars. Two people, an elderly man and woman, were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital."

Constable Mark Riley said: "We were on the scene almost immediately. We believe the bus has collided with one of the cars, although we do not know how. The force of the impact from the bus appears to have taken the vehicles into another car travelling the other way.

"An elderly couple were injured in the crash. The man was able to release himself from the car but the woman in the driving seat needed to be cut out by the fire crews."

A spokesman for Shropshire Fire and Rescue said: "We were alerted to the incident by the police. Four people were trapped, but three had been freed when fire crew arrived.

"Cutting gear was used to release one other person."

Suzie Fothergill, spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance said: "We were called to reports of a bus and a car which had been in collision.

"We conveyed two people to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital."

By Chrissy Symmons