Kit PetersCalls for safety improvements on A48 at Cross Hands as yet another crash closes major road for ‘extended period’
The vehicles involved in the collision are believed to be a black BMW and a white Toyota Prius.
Four people were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
The stretch is likely to remain closed for the rest of the morning, Traffic Wales has confirmed.
The service said this is to carry out investigation work with the road so far closed for more than six hours.
The road has long been known as a collision hotspot and new figures have revealed that things are getting worse rather than better.
Data released by Dyfed-Powys Police via a freedom of information request shows there were 169 crashes on the road in the space of just one year between the start of October 2023 and the end of September 2024.
According to traffic service Inrix, the incident today affects the road from Cross Gates roundabout to Heol Parc Mawr. It states that the road is currently shut for investigation work.
The westbound carriageway is closed from M4 (Pont Abraham Roundabout, Llanedi ) to A476 Llandeilo Road (Cross Hands Roundabout, Cross Hands).
The eastbound carriageway is closed from A476 Llandeilo Road (Cross Hands Roundabout) to Heol Parc Mawr.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police said the route will be closed and advised motorists to avoid the area. A spokesman said:
“We are in attendance at a road traffic collision that occurred around 4.20am this morning.
“An 18-year-old man, who was taken to hospital, has since been discharged. He currently remains in police custody having been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving with no insurance and driving whilst impaired.
“The driver of the BMW had failed to stop for police prior to the collision. The independent Office for Police has been notified and a formal referral process has been initiated.
“The road will be closed for an extended period due to a collision. Please avoid the area and find alternative routes for your journey.
“We would like to thank the public for their patience while investigations continue.”
The incident follows calls for safety to be improved on the stretch between Carmarthen and Pont Abraham, which on average sees a crash almost once every two days.
In July a 75-year-old woman was killed in a crash between Cross Hands and Llanddarog while in November three people were killed in crashes between Cross Hands and Pont Abraham.
A crash on November 5 on the eastbound side of the A48 near Cwmgwili claimed the life of 90-year-old John Howell Price. Due to the same collision Emily Thornton-Sandy, aged 30, was taken to a Cardiff hospital with serious injuries but died six days later on November 11.
Whilst on November 15 Ian Michael Owen, aged, 55, was killed following a collision on the eastbound stretch between Cross Hands and Cwmgwili.
In December MS Adam Price who represents the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency in the area of Carmarthenshire where the A48 dual carriageway is located called on the Welsh Government to do more to improve safety on the road.
“I was deeply concerned to learn that there had been further fatal incidents on the A48 [in November] and my thoughts go out to all those involved.
“These statistics indicate that there is a serious safety issue along this stretch of road.”
[Lead image: Traffic Wales South via Facebook]
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