A man has been arrested after a stolen taxi was driven the wrong way along the A55 on Monday evening. Motorists reported seeing the vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the dual carriageway before North Wales Police intervened and brought it to a stop.
Arrest and background
Officers arrested a man in connection with the incident, which is understood to have followed a collision on London Road in Holyhead, where a cyclist sustained injuries. A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: "One man has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in police custody while enquiries continue."
The vehicle was initially believed to belong to Tacsi Zoe, an Anglesey-based taxi firm. The company has since confirmed that one of its vehicles was stolen on Monday and that none of its drivers were involved in the A55 incident.
Taxi firm statement
In a statement, the company said: "I was personally caught up in this and, like many others, found the whole situation extremely scary and traumatic. I want to make it absolutely clear that this was not myself or any of my drivers. A huge thank you to all the police officers involved for their quick response and for bringing the situation to a safe conclusion."
Police appeal and road closure
Police are asking anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage, or photographs of damaged vehicles connected to the incident to contact 101 and obtain a crime reference number so the information and damage can be properly recorded and dealt with.
The spokesperson added: "The A55 was temporarily closed while officers dealt with the incident and ensured the road was safe to reopen. Prior to the vehicle entering the A55 a person was knocked off a bicycle on London Road in Holyhead, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. A number of parked vehicles were also damaged."
"We can confirm that there were no collisions as a result of the vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the A55. Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing, and no further details are available at this time."
North Wales Police acknowledged the feelings the incident may attract in light of recent events involving Cleveland Police, offering condolences to all those affected by those tragic events.
