Seven police officers were taken to hospital after a catastrophic chase ended in disaster, leaving at five police vehicles wrecked and a major dual carriageway shut.
The officers were rushed to hospital after the high-speed pile-up on the A1 near Denton, Newcastle, at 2.30am on Wednesday.
Shocking pictures of the aftermath of the early-morning pile-up showed a scene of devastation.
Four marked cars were ruined, with one having had its roof and doors ripped off, while a fifth unmarked cruiser completely turned on its side.
A black BMW was also involved in the crash and had been surrounded by battered police vehicles in the middle of the highway.
Four of the officers have since been discharged, while two remain for observation and one is receiving treatment to a leg injury. The two occupants of the BMW were uninjured.
A man in his 20s has subsequently 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.
Seven police officers have been taken to hospital after a horror crash involving at least five police vehicles
The multi-vehicle crash happened on the northbound carriageway of the A1 motorway near Denton, Newcastle shortly before 2.30am on Wednesday
Shocking pictures of the aftermath show four damaged marked police cars and one unmarked police vehicle (right) completely turned on its side
One of the police vehicles is lifted from the scene of the high-speed crash
Crash investigators at the scene of the crash which closed the A1 in both directions
Northumbria Police said officers tried to stop a car in the Whickham area of Gateshead at around 2am this morning because of concerns over the way it was being driven, but it left the area and a pursuit was authorised when it was sighted at around 2.25am.
Two minutes later the car and five police vehicles were involved in the collision, and a section of A1 remained closed in both directions nearly 12 hours later.
Superintendent Michelle Caisley, from Northumbria Police, said said: ‘Firstly, we want to wish all the officers who have been involved in the collision a full recovery.
‘We would also thank all those who attended the scene, including our colleagues from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and the North East Ambulance Service.
‘An investigation is under way to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and ask anyone with information that may assist us to come forward.
‘We would also ask people to avoid speculation both online and in the community which could impact the investigation.
‘We recognise this incident has caused significant delays and thank motorists for their patience. The road closure has been necessary in order for our collision investigation team to conduct their enquiries.’
Glass and debris remains scattered across the road while crash investigators have been sent to the scene of the pile-up.
Stunned locals living near the crash scene described it as ‘absolute carnage’ this morning. ‘I’ve never seen anything this bad before… I was absolutely gobsmacked,’ one woman told MailOnline.
The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut beyond rush hour and into the afternoon while police investigations are carried out.
Meanwhile, Newcastle Airport has warned anyone travelling to the airport this morning to allow ‘additional time’ following the collision.
Specialist police sniffer dogs have also been spotted at the crash site this afternoon
One police car has been left without a roof and three of its doors
While others have smashed windows and parts scattered across all three lanes
The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut beyond rush hour and into the afternoon while police investigations are carried out
The A-road is a key route to the airport which is expected to be busy due to the Easter holidays.
Avril Smith has lived next to the highway for 27 years and was left horrified at the pile-up.
‘It was absolute carnage,’ she told MailOnline. ‘It was the sound of the police helicopter which woke me up at 2.45am.
‘I got up and went to the other bedroom and when I opened the blinds there was police and ambulances everywhere.
‘I knew then something serious had happened. I’ve never seen anything this bad before, living here.’
The scene of the crash is a stone’s throw from where PC David Rathband was shot by gunman Raoul Moat in 2010, on the roundabout next to the A69.
One resident said: ‘It was just shock when I saw what happened. To see see the amount of carnage was mad.
‘I’ve been here 20 years and the only major thing we know to have happened here was when Raoul Moat shot the police officer.
‘It’s such a busy stretch of road that is going to cause chaos.’
There are major delays on the surrounding roads, with heavy congestion on the nearby Scotswood Road and other areas of the A1.
The road is closed between Swalwell, in Gateshead, and Denton, Newcastle
At least four police vehicles were involved in the crash on the major road
Smashed glass and debris remains scattered across the road following the crash
Traffic is also particularly bad coming in and out of Newcastle city centre, due to the proximity of the collision.
There are delays of 45 minutes, said National Highways, with currently four miles of congestion northbound and one mile of congestion southbound.
As there is no official diversion route for the section of the A1, nearby roads are being heavily affected, particularly the A19 to the east of Newcastle, added the highways agency.
It is not yet known when the road will reopen, with officers from the Forensic Collision Investigation Unit are currently on the scene.
The circumstances that lead to the crash and the conditions of those taken to hospital is not currently know but it is said that ‘serious injuries’ were sustained.
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.
Crash investigators have been sent to the scene of the pile-up
The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside
‘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.’
When approached the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) said that the incident has not been refereed to the watchdog.
In a statement published on Wednesday morning, a Northumbria Police spokesperson said: ‘Shortly before 2:30am today (Wednesday) we received a report of a multi-vehicle collision on the A1 northbound near the Derwent Haugh Road junction, Gateshead.
‘Emergency services are currently in attendance.
‘A section of the road is closed in both directions – there are diversions in place from the Derwent Haugh Road junction northbound, and the A69 roundabout southbound.
‘Motorists should use alternative routes where possible.’
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that in the early hours of Wednesday morning (April 9) five fire appliances and two officers attended a road traffic collision in Newcastle.
Two black cars were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side
Emergency services rushed to the crash that happened at around 2.30am on Wedesday
The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside
Crash investigators start their probe into the collision that ended in seven officers people in hospital
The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut beyond rush hour and into the afternoon
National Highways said the A1 will be closed between Swalwell in Gateshead and Denton in both directions
‘Our control room team received an emergency call from Northumbria Police for assistance at 2.29am, and crews from Gosforth, Newcastle Central, Swalwell and West Denton Community Fire Stations were dispatched to a location on the A1 northbound near to Denton Burn.
‘Our firefighters assisted blue light colleagues from Northumbia Police and North East Ambulance Service during the multiple-vehicle incident. Crews left the scene at 3.51am.’
National Highways said the A1 will be closed between Swalwell in Gateshead and Denton in both directions into Wednesday afternoon.
In a statement on its website, National Highways said: ‘A multi-vehicle collision resulting in serious injuries occurred at approximately 2.30am this morning (Wednesday, April 9).
‘Due to the severity of the collision a full Northumbria Police investigation is under way and they advise that it will be protracted.
‘The road is expected to remain closed in both directions into the afternoon of Wednesday, April 9.’
