A CAR crash which resulted in the death of a man and an 11-year-old boy from Chepstow has been described as a “local tragedy”.

Gwent Police was called at around 16.37 yesterday in relation to a serious road traffic collision between a black Vauxhall Corsa and a blue coloured saloon on the A466 Wye Valley Link Road near Bulwark.

The driver of the blue saloon, a man from the Chepstow area, and an 11-year-old boy, also from the Chesptow area and who was travelling in the Corsa, have died from their injuries.

Flowers and cards of condolences have since been left at the scene.

The other occupants of the Corsa, two females, received minor injuries but remain in hospital.

Family Liaison officers are providing support to both families.

Emergency services including air Ambulance, Fire, ambulance, and Police dealt with the incident while officers are still investigating the circumstances.

Kathryn Leamon, of Hawthorn Close in Bulwark, lives a few yards from the main road where the incident occurred.

She said: “It’s a horrible, local tragedy.

“I arrived just after the police got there and my automatic reaction was to come back in the house but large crowds had gathered to try and get a glimpse of what was going on.

“It was becoming quite congested. It was a scene of total carnage.

“The helicopter landing here played a big part in the draw of people wondering what was going on. People were being forced back because of the sheer gust of the helicopter when it landed on the main road.”

She added: “There was a negative response to the way people were behaving because under those circumstances the emergency services needed space and privacy to do their job.

“It’s quite alarming to see when people are asked to step back by the police that they did so reluctantly.

“People in the close vicinity knew there were two fatalities [at the time of the incident]. The helicopter shut itself off, they wouldn’t have done that if they thought they could save someone.

“There are bound to have been witnesses because it’s such a pedestrianised area.”

Ms Leamon added: “It’s a true tragedy, and when something like this happens on your own doorstep you realise how precious and fragile life is.

“Like everyone here in the locality, my feelings are with the families.”

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she heard a “loud bang” when inside the house, a 100 yards or so from where the incident took place. She added: “It was awful. It’s a tragedy for the families involved.”

Breege Burke, who lives off Maple Avenue in Bulwark, said: “It’s dreadful. We knew something was seriously wrong when the helicopter came.

“I went out to have a look because large crowds had gathered, but I couldn’t stay there any longer. I have been here 20 years and I haven’t seen anything like this.

“Can you imagine hearing that news if you were the family? It’s dreadful.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to ring 101 quoting log 393 06/09/13.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to a cyclist who was travelling towards Chepstow and was in the vicinity at the time of the collision.