Police have issued a major update on the officers who were rushed to hospital following a horror collision between five police cars and a BMW on the A1 on Wednesday morning.
Northumbria Police have confirmed that two officers remain in hospital while another has now been discharged. Seven were initially rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” in the immediate aftermath of the crash, which happened during a police pursuit of a BMW M Sport that “failed to stop”. Shocking images showed multiple marked police cars with significant damage in the middle of the road, including one that had been completely flattened, and a large amount of debris scattered across the taramac. A huge chunk of the A1 was closed in both directions between Swalwell and Denton for around 13 hours, sparking major traffic in the surrounding area.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said at the time: “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.”
The force said officers had tried to stop a car in the Whickham area of Gateshead at around 2am due to concerns over the way it was being driven. A pursuit was authorised when the vehicle was sighted a few minutes later at around 2.25am – but just two minutes in, the vehicle and five police cars were involved in the collision, the force said.
It later added: “We’ve launched an investigation after our officers were involved in a collision during a pursuit. The incident happened on the northbound section of the A1 near the Derwent Haugh Road junction in Gateshead, shortly before 2.30am today. A dark grey BMW M Sport was being pursued after it failed to stop. During the short pursuit, the car and five police vehicles were involved in a collision.
“Five police vehicles were involved, with seven of our officers taken to hospital. Four have been discharged, two remain for observation and a one is receiving treatment to a leg injury. We wish them all a full recovery. Two occupants of the BMW were uninjured.” In its latest update, Northumbria Police confirmed that two officers remain in hospital while another has been discharged.
A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. A woman, also in her 20s, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving. On Thursday morning, Northumbria Police confirmed the man had been released on police bail, and that the woman had been released and will face no further action.
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