As it swerved across the carriageway, heading towards oncoming traffic, residents and pedestrians scrambled for safetyAndrew Forgrave Countryside and tourism editor and Philip Dewey Court Correspondent
14:55, 03 Jan 2026Updated 15:03, 03 Jan 2026
The VW careers down Ffordd Coed Mawr despite frantic attempts by its driver(Image: Gareth Wyn Jones)
Onlookers stood stunned as a runaway VW vehicle careered down a steep and icy road in north Wales. As it swerved across the carriageway, heading towards oncoming traffic, residents and pedestrians scrambled for safety.
A video posted online by Gareth Wyn Jones on Friday highlighted the dangers of navigating some of Bangor’s snow-covered roads. The VW’s descent down the hill reached a nail-biting climax when it collided with a stationary Vauxhall.
The collision triggered the Vauxhall’s alarm and nudged it slowly down Ffordd Coed Mawr. Witnesses grimaced at the damage inflicted on the 2025-registered VW, whose driver made frantic last-second attempts to avoid the crash, North Wales Live reports.
On social media people criticised the driver for attempting to brake instead of using the gears to engine brake. For many, the most striking image was a postman walking past in shorts during the freezing conditions.
One observer remarked: “Car curling, should be an Olympic event.” In the video, a local resident can be heard likening the incident to “ten-pin bowling”.
Soon after, a photograph appeared on Facebook showing the damaged Vauxhall with the caption: “Whoever owns this car, your car has been hit.”
According to locals the road had been gritted that morning – though clearly with limited success. The treacherous conditions of the road led to an earlier online caution from a worried resident.
“Avoid going up Coed Mawr hill,” she advised. “Cars are wheel spinning and are having to reverse back down.”
Snow has fallen in Wales again on Saturday while Wales is braced for further snow and ice in the coming days. While north Wales predominantly saw snow on Friday, parts of south Wales have also woken up to wintry scenes on Saturday.
Snow has fallen in parts of west Wales including Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, while Swansea has also seen more than a dusting of the white stuff overnight.
A yellow warning for snow and ice was in place until 12pm on Saturday, and the Met Office has issued a new warning for ice which will come into force at 4pm.
The new yellow warning will remain in place until midday on Sunday, January 4, although as with all weather alerts it could be subject to change, or further warnings could be added.
It will cover the following Welsh counties: Bridgend, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Vale of Glamorgan, and Wrexham.
A yellow warning for snow and ice will then come into force at 3pm on Sunday and be in place until 12pm on Monday, January 5. This warning too affects most parts of Wales.
Then, at 12pm on Monday, a new yellow warning for snow and ice will come into force for almost 24 hours, lasting until 11am on Tuesday, January 6.
This will cover lagre parts of Wales including Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Swansea, and Wrexham.
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