A FATHER-of-three is in a critical condition after the taxi he was driving was involved in a crash.

Wayne Duffin’s taxi was carrying four passengers along the A477 early on Sunday morning (September 16) when it was hit by an ambulance car responding to an emergency.

Mr Duffin’s sister, Kristina Wray, said he had cracked his skull, suffered a brain bleed, and cracked his collarbone and many of his ribs as a result of the side-on collision.

Ms Wray said that he had been placed in a medically induced coma and was in a critical, but stable condition.

“We are hopeful,” she said. “We just hope that he’s going to be alright. We are just trying to support each other and just pull together.”

Ms Wray said the driver’s side had been hit hardest, but Mr Duffin’s passengers, two adults and two children, were also taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The ambulance had no patients on board, but its driver has been described as a ‘true hero’, who stayed with Mr Duffin despite sustaining broken bones himself.

Cllr Paul Dowson was one of the first to arrive on the scene.

“The ambulance driver got out of the wreckage of his own car and two of us did what we could,” he said.

Cllr Dowson, who has first aid training, reached through the taxi’s rear window and held Mr Duffin’s head while fire-fighters spent an hour cutting off the car roof.

Ms Wray said her family was grateful to all who helped, especially the injured ambulance car driver.

“The family has the utmost respect for him and the councillor, Mr Dowson, who cared for him.

“Without them, we could be looking at a much different story.”

Dyfed-Powys Police has issued an appeal for witnesses following the crash.

A spokesman said both cars were travelling east towards Milton, from the direction of Pembroke Dock.

No arrests have been made, but Pembrokeshire Roads Policing Unit is investigating.

To make a donation to Mr Duffin’s family, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kaye-newell