A woman in her 50s has died and a man has been seriously injured following a two-vehicle collision on the A518 Wellington Road, near Lilleshall, on Wednesday morning.
The crash, involving a grey BMW and a grey Audi A5, occurred at around 8:45am near the Lilleshall junction, prompting a large-scale emergency response. West Mercia Police have launched a full investigation and are urging the public to come forward with any information or dash cam footage that could help establish the cause of the collision.
Emergency Services Respond to Major Incident
Firefighters from Newport, Telford Central, and Wellington fire stations, along with paramedics and police, rushed to the scene after reports of a serious crash. The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they received the call at 8:45am and sent four fire appliances along with an Operations Officer.
Initial reports suggest the BMW was travelling towards Newport while the Audi was heading towards Telford. The female driver of one of the vehicles was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The male driver of the other vehicle suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital.
A child passenger travelling in the Audi sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
Police Issue Urgent Witness Appeal
Inspector Chris Henry of West Mercia Police expressed condolences to the families affected and stressed the importance of public assistance in piecing together what happened.
“Our thoughts are with both families at this very difficult time. We are urging anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or seen the vehicles in the moments before the collision, to come forward.”
“We’re especially keen to hear from anyone with dash cam footage of a grey BMW heading towards Newport or a grey Audi A5 travelling in the direction of Telford around 8:45am.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 01905 973325 or email [email protected].
Local Impact and Community Reaction
The crash caused significant disruption, with the A518 closed between the Clock Tower Roundabout and the Red House until approximately 2:00pm, allowing emergency services to work safely and begin their investigation.
On social media, local residents expressed their grief and concern. One user wrote, “Terrible news from Wellington Road this morning—thoughts with everyone affected.” Another added, “That stretch of the A518 is dangerous, especially during rush hour. Something must be done.”
Broader Road Safety Concerns
This incident adds to a growing number of serious collisions across Shropshire. In January, a crash on the A5 between Telford and Shrewsbury resulted in one fatality and several injuries. National figures from the Department for Transport show that more than 1,700 people died in UK road incidents in 2023, highlighting the continued importance of road safety awareness and infrastructure improvements.
How You Can Help
- Call West Mercia Police: 01905 973325
- Email: [email protected]
- Check dash cams for footage of a grey BMW or Audi A5 around Lilleshall at 8:45am on 9 April
- Share this appeal with others who may have been in the area
As investigations continue, authorities hope public cooperation will help bring clarity and accountability to this devastating tragedy.
