Seven police officers were taken to hospital following a major crash involving at least four police vehicles during a car chase.
The collision happened on the northbound carriageway of the A1 near Denton, Newcastle, shortly before 2.30am on Wednesday.
The road has been closed in both directions, leading to long delays. Two people have been arrested, Northumbria Police said.
Images from the scene show four marked police vehicles badly damaged, a car on its side, and debris scattered across the northbound carriageway. One of the police cars had its roof torn off.
Crash investigators have been sent to the scene of the pile-up.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 2.29am on Wednesday 9 April to reports of a road traffic collision on the A1 northbound near Denton, Newcastle.
“We dispatched five ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer, two crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by road.
“Five patients were transported to hospital for further treatment.”
National Highways said the A1 will be closed in both directions between Swalwell, in Gateshead, and Denton into Wednesday afternoon.
Northumbria Police explained officers attempted to stop a dark grey BMW M Sport in the Whickham area of Gateshead at about 2am on Wednesday due to concerns about the manner it was being driven.
The car drove off and it was later spotted in the Swalwell area.
Specialist officers were sent to the area and at 2.25am and got behind the car.
But at 2.27am the car and five police vehicles were involved in a collision on the northbound section of the A1 near the Derwent Haugh Road junction.
Seven officers were taken to hospital, with what were described as non-life threatening injuries.
Four have been discharged, two remain for observation and one is receiving treatment to a leg injury.
Two occupants of the BMW were uninjured.
A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
A woman, also aged in her 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
Both remain in police custody at this time.
Superintendent Michelle Caisley, from Northumbria Police, said: “We want to wish all the officers who have been involved in the collision a full recovery.”
“An investigation is under way to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and we ask anyone with information that may assist us to come forward,” she added.
If you have been affected by the incident please contact [email protected]
Source: independent.co.uk
