Wife left traumatised after reservoir tragedy

A 55-year-old woman managed to swim to safety after the car she was driving plunged 20ft down a bank and into a Mid Wales reservoir.

Denise Griffith watched in horror as rescuers desperately tried to save her husband, mother and two teenage foster sons, who were inside the car at Bwlch y Gle Dam, Clywedog, near Llanidloes.

But the emergency services were unable to save the four other people who were in the vehicle.

The victims of the tragedy were officially named last night as Emyr Glyn Griffith, 66, Phyllis Iris Hooper, 84, and Peter Briscome and Liam Govier, both 14.

The accident happened on the B4518 at 2.30pm on Wednesday when the family's Peugeot 807 people carrier is believed to have been clipped by a Ford Mondeo.

The driver of the Ford, mechanic Gordon Dyche, 23, who moved to Llanidloes from Walsall a year ago, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released on police bail.

Mrs Griffith, who was treated for shock and minor injuries, was said today to be "deeply traumatised" and was being comforted by police family liaison officers.

The family, from Pontypridd, near Cardiff, are believed to have been holidaying together in the Machynlleth area.

Superintendent Huw Meredith of Dyfed-Powys Police said Mrs Griffith went to hospital after the bodies of the deceased were recovered from the water and is now out of hospital recovering.

John Davies, a neighbour of the family from Pontypridd, said: "This is so tragic. They were such a nice family, people who would do anything for you."

County Councillor Gareth Morgan, from Llanidloes, said a minute's silence was observed yesterday for the family at Powys County Council's County Hall in Llandrindod Wells.

Witnesses to the incident are being urged to call Dyfed-Powys Police on (01267) 222020