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Toddler is sole survivor of A44 Aberystwyth crash | Toddler is sole survivor of A44 Aberystwyth crash |
(35 minutes later) | |
A young girl was the sole survivor of a crash which killed her mother and three others in the family from Llanidloes. | A young girl was the sole survivor of a crash which killed her mother and three others in the family from Llanidloes. |
The 18-month-old, named locally as Holly Hind, is in a serious condition after a day out ended in tragedy on the A44 in Powys on Tuesday. | The 18-month-old, named locally as Holly Hind, is in a serious condition after a day out ended in tragedy on the A44 in Powys on Tuesday. |
Alison Hind, 28, her uncle Martyn Pugh, 47, and his partner's parents Margaret, 65, and John Kehoe, 72, all died in the collision with a tanker. | Alison Hind, 28, her uncle Martyn Pugh, 47, and his partner's parents Margaret, 65, and John Kehoe, 72, all died in the collision with a tanker. |
Holly was flown to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. | Holly was flown to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. |
The crash happened at a site between Llangurig and Ponterwyd. | |
Holly's father Steve Hughes, 36, who was not involved in the collision between the family's silver Ford Focus, a Scania fuel tanker and a white Ford Transit van, is at the hospital with his daughter. | Holly's father Steve Hughes, 36, who was not involved in the collision between the family's silver Ford Focus, a Scania fuel tanker and a white Ford Transit van, is at the hospital with his daughter. |
Police said the relatives of those who died had been informed. | Police said the relatives of those who died had been informed. |
Full-time carer | Full-time carer |
Holly's great-grandfather Emrys Davies, 80, said: "It is such a tragedy. | Holly's great-grandfather Emrys Davies, 80, said: "It is such a tragedy. |
"The police came last night for Steve and he is down in Cardiff now with Holly in hospital. We are all just hoping she will be okay." | "The police came last night for Steve and he is down in Cardiff now with Holly in hospital. We are all just hoping she will be okay." |
The couple also have a six-year-old son. | The couple also have a six-year-old son. |
Martin Pugh lived with his partner Lynn Kehoe on the Gwaelod-y-Bryn estate in Llanidloes, with her parents in the next street. | |
He was a full-time carer for John Kehoe and had taken the couple with Ms Hind and Holly to Aberystwyth because of the nice weather. | He was a full-time carer for John Kehoe and had taken the couple with Ms Hind and Holly to Aberystwyth because of the nice weather. |
'Quite appalling' | 'Quite appalling' |
Local councillor Gareth Morgan said: "I often see Martyn with the little girl in the town walking their chocolate Labrador. She is a lovely child. They are nice people. | Local councillor Gareth Morgan said: "I often see Martyn with the little girl in the town walking their chocolate Labrador. She is a lovely child. They are nice people. |
"It's a great tragedy for this community to see a whole family devastated by an accident of this nature. It's hard to find appropriate words to express one's shock and total dismay. | "It's a great tragedy for this community to see a whole family devastated by an accident of this nature. It's hard to find appropriate words to express one's shock and total dismay. |
"I would extend my deepest sympathy to the family involved." | "I would extend my deepest sympathy to the family involved." |
Mr Morgan said the road was known to be one of the most dangerous in Wales. | Mr Morgan said the road was known to be one of the most dangerous in Wales. |
"Little if nothing has been done to improve it in the past 50 years. It calls for a major assessment of the dangers and a major investment because it's a main road into mid Wales," he said. | "Little if nothing has been done to improve it in the past 50 years. It calls for a major assessment of the dangers and a major investment because it's a main road into mid Wales," he said. |
"Its accident history is quite appalling." | "Its accident history is quite appalling." |
A Welsh government spokesperson said it was committed to doing all it could to make Wales's roads as safe as possible. | |
"It would not be appropriate to comment on this incident while the police investigation is ongoing." | |
The A44 was closed for 12 hours after the crash. | The A44 was closed for 12 hours after the crash. |
It happened around 15 miles (24km) from Aberystwyth, near Eisteddfa Gurig, between the villages of Llangurig in Powys and Ponterwyd in Ceredigion. | It happened around 15 miles (24km) from Aberystwyth, near Eisteddfa Gurig, between the villages of Llangurig in Powys and Ponterwyd in Ceredigion. |
The Ford Focus was travelling east on the A44, the transit van was driving behind it and the tanker was going in the opposite direction. | The Ford Focus was travelling east on the A44, the transit van was driving behind it and the tanker was going in the opposite direction. |
Police were called to the crash at 14:55 BST. Two air ambulances and five other ambulances were sent along with other emergency crews. | Police were called to the crash at 14:55 BST. Two air ambulances and five other ambulances were sent along with other emergency crews. |
Firefighters were at the scene for five-and-a-half hours. | Firefighters were at the scene for five-and-a-half hours. |
The A44 is one of the main roads in mid Wales and links Ceredigion with Powys. It was closed for 21 miles (34km). | The A44 is one of the main roads in mid Wales and links Ceredigion with Powys. It was closed for 21 miles (34km). |
Ponterwyd resident John Wall told BBC Wales the road, which he described as the main pathway from the Midlands to the mid Wales coast, was very busy. | Ponterwyd resident John Wall told BBC Wales the road, which he described as the main pathway from the Midlands to the mid Wales coast, was very busy. |
"It's a trunk road but it's not really fit for purpose. There's been so many accidents on the road over the years," he said. | "It's a trunk road but it's not really fit for purpose. There's been so many accidents on the road over the years," he said. |
BBC reporter Craig Duggan from the scene on Wednesday: | BBC reporter Craig Duggan from the scene on Wednesday: |
The road has reopened overnight. Traffic is travelling along the road again this morning. | The road has reopened overnight. Traffic is travelling along the road again this morning. |
There is some police tape where the incident happened but other than that the traffic is flowing. | There is some police tape where the incident happened but other than that the traffic is flowing. |
The three vehicles that were involved have been removed from the site. | The three vehicles that were involved have been removed from the site. |
They have been moved to a nearby location for forensic investigation as the investigation continues into what is yet another fatal crash on this road. | They have been moved to a nearby location for forensic investigation as the investigation continues into what is yet another fatal crash on this road. |
It has been known as one of the most dangerous roads in Wales. In a study last year by a motoring organisation it came out as one of the worst in terms of the number of accidents - serious injury and fatal accidents. | It has been known as one of the most dangerous roads in Wales. In a study last year by a motoring organisation it came out as one of the worst in terms of the number of accidents - serious injury and fatal accidents. |