Taxi firm says one of its cars was in A55 fatal crash

A taxi firm has confirmed one of its cars was involved in today’s A55 fatal crash. The Bangor-based Premier Group said it is helping police officers with their investigations.

In a statement, North Wales Police[1] said a “single occupant” of the vehicle died close to Penmaenbach tunne[2]l, Conwy[3], in the early hours of this morning. The crash led to a day of tailbacks on the A55 and elsewhere while accident experts completed their investigations

One lane of the eastbound carriageway was reopened mid-afternoon amid reports of damage to a wall facing out to sea. An unconfirmed photo of the scene shows a white car embedded in the wall, its bonnet partially suspended in mid-air. Damage to the seawall raises the prospect of ongoing congestion during busy periods until it is repaired.

Later this afternoon, the Premier Group issued its own statement on Facebook[6]. The company said: “The Premier Group can confirm it was one of our vehicles involved in the traffic accident this morning on the A55[7].

“The management and staff are currently assisting North Wales Police with their investigation. If you have any information relating to this incident we urge you to contact the police. Our sincere thoughts go out to the family of the deceased person.”

North Wales Police said the vehicle’s occupant” was pronounced dead at the scene. Next of kin and the coroner have been informed.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage. The force said the accident happened on the eastbound A55 at Dwygyfylchi at 5.49am today (Saturday, October 28).

At one point delays on the eastbound A55 were estimated at 53 minutes. Drivers coming from the Bangor[8] direction were urged to detour from junction 11 on a 39-mile route along the A5 and A470.

By mid afternoon, this route had become heavily congested with delays particularly severe on the approach to Betws-y-Coed[9]. Motorists caught up in the A55 snarl-up diverted from Puffin roundabout, leading to tailbacks on the Sychnant Pass and around Conwy town[10].

In late morning, Traffic Wales implemented traffic management controls at Conwy Tunnel due to the volume of westbound traffic, causing queues to back past Llandudno[11] Junction. An added complication was go-slow convoy organised by 20mph protestors on the A55 between Wrexham[12] and Bangor[13] in both directions this morning.

  • Witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage can contact North Wales Police contact us on 101. Callers should quote incident number A172376.

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References

  1. ^ North Wales Police (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  2. ^ “single occupant” of the vehicle died close to Penmaenbach tunne (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  3. ^ Conwy (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  4. ^ Epic view of A55 tunnel that fooled some and left others scared witless (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  5. ^ North Wales town divided by 'don't park here' note left on school run mum's car (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  6. ^ Facebook (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  7. ^ A55 (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  8. ^ Bangor (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  9. ^ Betws-y-Coed (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  10. ^ Conwy town (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  11. ^ Llandudno (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  12. ^ Wrexham (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  13. ^ Bangor (www.dailypost.co.uk)
  14. ^ Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter (www.dailypost.co.uk)

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