Newcastle A1 police car crash closes road near Denton Burn

A crash involving a number of police cars has closed part of the A1 in Newcastle.

Five people were taken to hospital following the collision, which happened just before 02:30 BST, the North East Ambulance Services (NEAS) said.

Pictures show four marked vehicles badly damaged – one with its roof ripped off – and a car on its side, with debris scattered across the northbound carriageway near Denton Burn.

National Highways said the A1 would be closed between Swalwell in Gateshead and Denton, Newcastle, in both directions into the afternoon.

Northumbria Police has commented on the road closure but has released no further details about what happened. It has been approached for further comment.

One resident described the scene as “absolute carnage”.

He said: “You could hear a helicopter through the night, it was very strange, I knew something big had happened as I’ve been stuck in the traffic.”

At the scene, BBC Look North reporter Mark Denten said an “extensively damaged” black 4×4 was on its side and debris could be seen scattered across the road.

Four police cars could also be seen, he said, with one a few metres down the road appearing to be the most severely damaged.

Another resident said she was in “disbelief” at seeing what had happened.

“I live round the corner and at 3am all we could hear was helicopters going around,” she said.

“I came down to see the crash this morning and I’m shock, disbelief, I just hope everyone’s OK.”

At about lunchtime, the damaged vehicles were being lifted on to low loaders and being removed.

A police detection dog was also sent into a black BMW which was wedged between the police cars.

The ambulance service said it had sent five crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer and two crews from its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said it sent five appliances from across Newcastle and crews left the scene just before 04:00.

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) was also dispatched.

A spokesperson said: “Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat multiple patients.”

The crash hit the morning rush hour with motorists forced to find alternative routes over the River Tyne. It led to 30-to-40 minute queues over the Redheugh Bridge and about 40-minute delays through the Tyne Tunnel.

BBC Radio Newcastle’s Andy Watson said traffic was still tailing back in the area and the Highways Agency had told him the crash site would take some time to clear.

“It’s been snarled up all morning and I think the whole North East during rush hour felt it,” he said.

Drivers have been advised to find alternative routes if possible.

Additional reporting by Rebecca O’Neill.