One dead and 22 injured in Isle of Wight double-decker bus crash

One person died and 22 others have been injured in a crash between a double-decker bus and two cars on the Isle of Wight.

Nineteen people were taken to hospital, including four who were airlifted, after the collision on Forest Road in Newport on Sunday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for Isle of Wight NHS Trust said: “A major incident was declared after a serious road traffic incident took place on Forest Road, Newport, involving two cars and a bus.

“The Isle of Wight NHS Trust can confirm that four people have been airlifted to mainland hospitals and currently 15 patients have been brought into St Mary’s Hospital.”

People were asked not to attend the emergency department unless absolutely necessary.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire control confirmed there had been one fatality.

Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service group commander Justin Harden told reporters: “My thoughts are with the deceased’s family, on behalf of everybody here.”

“It has been a significant incident, the like of which we have not seen for some time.”

Holidaymaker Alisha Smith, 23, said the double-decker hit a second car after colliding with a Mini that pulled into the road.

“We were driving down the road. A Mini pulled out from a side road,” she said. “The driver did his best to avoid it, but we hit and then bounced on to hit another car following in a different direction. The next thing I know, I was on the floor and got up to see if everyone was OK.”

The airlifted patients were taken to hospitals in Portsmouth or Southampton.