One person has been rushed to hospital after a car crashed into a bridge in the Forest of Dean. The crash caused significant damage to the Newerne Street Bridge, located in the middle of Lydney, after the car drove through a road closure.

The bridge was damaged during Storm Bert and was waiting for repairs to be carried out. However, a driver crashed into the bridge yesterday morning (Tuesday, December 3) causing sections of the bridge to crumble away.

One person was seriously injured during the incident and has been taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol. The driver of the car has been identified and investigations into the incident are ongoing, police have said.

Newerne Street, where the bridge is located, had a number of road closure signs and barriers, which the driver of the car reportedly ignored. After driving through the road closure, the car crashed into the Newerne Street Bridge.

A statement from Gloucestershire Police said: “The bridge on Newerne Street, Lydney, was damaged during Storm Bert and is currently awaiting repair. Closures have been put in place by Highways.

“Police were called to a report that a single vehicle had collided with the bridge at around 1am this morning (Tuesday 3 December).

“One person was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with serious injuries. The driver has been identified and investigations are continuing.

“Highways were informed of the collision so that a structural engineer could assess the damage to the bridge.”

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