Footballers badly hurt in crash

A FOOTBALL club has been left in a state of shock after two current players and two former players suffered serious injuries in a road traffic accident.

Lee James and Kevin Lewis, current players for Builth Wells, along with Steve Parry, a retired Builth player, and Gareth Jones, currently at Newbridge-on-Wye, were involved in a collision on the A44 Bainstree Cross near Monkland, Herefordshire, on May 24 around 2.45pm.

Five casualities, including the four named men, all sustained serious injuries and Rob Powell, chairman of Builth Wells, has said the club has been left in a state of shock.

He said: “It is a very sad occurence and everyone at the club has been left shellshocked.

“The club is in a very emotional state. They have sustained very serious injuries, but we wish the players all the best and also wish them a speedy recovery.”

Two West Midland air ambulances and a Wales air ambulance attended the incident involving a blue Dacia Sandero and a silver Saab 9-5.

The collision happened 200 metres east of the A44/A4410 junction and a spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Crews responded to a serious two-car road traffic collision at about 2.45pm.

“A woman believed to be in her 50s was treated for back and leg injuries.

“A man believed to be in his 20s was also treated for pelvic and abdominal injuries.

“Both patients were taken to Hereford Hospital by land ambulance.

“The Welsh Air Ambulance crew treated a man in his 20s for internal injuries. The patient was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

“The Cosford based Midlands Air Ambulance with a doctor aboard airlifted a man in his 20s who had been trapped in his vehicle. The patient was taken to the Queen Elizabeth trauma centre with chest and spinal injuries.

“A man in his 30s was airlifted by the second Midlands Air Ambulance to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with chest injuries.”

Pip Samuel, of Newbridge-one-Wye Football Club, said the club was saddened by the news.

He said: “The club is sad to hear the seriousness of the incident.

“We wish all the players a speedy recovery, with our defender Gareth Jones involved and former player Steve Parry also involved.”

In a statement from West Mercia Police, a spokesman confirmed three of the casualties were taken to hospital with two of them in a critical condition.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision or witnessed either of the vehicles prior to the collision.

Anyone who has any information is asked to call Herefordshire Oper-ational Policing Unit on 101, quoting reference 376 of May 24 2015.

Alternatively information can be given anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via

www.crimestoppers.org.uk

Thanks to the County Times for this news article