TWO drivers were killed yesterday in a horror crash involving three vehicles – a stock wagon, a goods lorry and a car.

The accident happened at about 4.15pm on a bridge above the River Ceiriog on the A483 at Chirk.

Emergency services personnel also had to deal with stricken cattle thrown out of the stock wagon in the collision.

A police firearms officer had to put down at least one cow because of the extensive injuries it suffered.

Last night a spokesman for North Wales Police said the road had been shut down and was expected to remain closed at least until today.

Diversions were set up and the smash brought chaos to the evening rush-hour traffic flow as commuters tried to make their way home from work. Large queues of vehicles built up along the routes involved.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police, which is leading the investigation into the tragedy, said: “At this stage we can’t provide any further details regarding the two fatalities. No formal identification has taken place yet and the next of kin are being contacted.

“Concerning the cattle, at least one beast was humanely dispatched by an armed officer to prevent it suffering unnecessarily.”

He added police officers and fire service officers were working in liaison to try to rescue a number of other cows which had been travelling in the cattle truck.

Among the rescue crews who attended the accident, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent personnel from Chirk, Colwyn Bay and Wrexham.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said another patient had sustained a head injury in the collision but declined to be taken to hospital for treatment.

Units from the fire service were on the scene this morning helping to make the road safe.

The road remained closed overnight and into this morning to allow a police investigation to continue and traffic was being diverted through nearby Chirk.