Three killed in horror crash near town pier after out-of-control car ‘ploughed into pedestrians and a house’

THREE people have been killed in a horror crash after a car 'lost control and ploughed into pedestrians'.

North Wales Police arrived on Alma Street, close to Beaumaris Pier, in Beaumaris, Anglesey, shortly after 2.45pm on Wednesday.

Officers tragically pronounced three people dead at the scene as terrified locals watched the horror unfold.

The bustling seaside town had been full of holidaymakers when witnesses claimed an Audi lost control.

It has been reported the driver "swerved to go around a horse and carriage" before mounting the pavement.

Locals alleged the vehicle mowed down 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 told PA 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 told the PA news agency she watched "people trying very, very hard to do CPR".

"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."

The force has launched a probe into the smash and say investigations are ongoing.

A Wales Air Ambulance spokesperson said two crews were sent by air and arrived on scene at 3.06pm.

A cordon has been put in place in the area around High Street, with members of the public urged to avoid the scene.

Local MP Llinos Medi posted: "Devastating news from Beaumaris. I am thinking of everyone who has been affected today. 

"The news has shaken our community here on the island. A heartfelt thank you to all the emergency services and volunteers who are responding to the emergency."

Virginia Crosbie, former Conservative MP for Ynys Mon, added in a statement on Facebook: "My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families and loved ones."

Meanwhile the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, and the Bishop of Bardsey, David Morris, issued a joint statement offering "our sympathy and prayers to all who have been involved in today's car accident".

They said: "This is devastating news for the community and for the friends and family of the three people who have sadly died."

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "Shortly after 2.45pm today (Wednesday, 28 August) officers responded to reports of a road traffic collision in Beaumaris, Anglesey.

"The incident occurred on Alma Street, close to Beaumaris Pier.

"Officers attended along with fire, ambulance and air ambulance crews.

"Sadly, three people were pronounced deceased at the scene.

"Our efforts to establish the full circumstances of this incident remain ongoing.

"We continue to appeal to people to avoid the area of the High Street, which is expected to be closed for some time."

Chief Inspector Caroline Mullen-Hurst added: “Sadly, we can confirm that three people have been fatally injured in the incident.

“We are appealing to anybody who witnessed the incident that hasn’t already spoken to officers, or anybody who might have dashcam footage, to please get in touch.

“You can speak to us via our website or by calling 101, using reference number Q129825.

"We will issue a further update in due course."

A spokesperson for the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed two emergency ambulances, once Cymru high acuity response unit paramedic, one advanced paramedic practitioner, one duty operational manager and one locality manager were sent to the scene.

"We were supported by pre-hospital immediate care specialists from North Wales emergency doctors service and advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter," the spokesperson added.