What we know about A1 crash as seven police officers injured.
The A1 was closed in both directions near Denton, Newcastle, Tyneside, after a collision following a police pursuit at 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
The driver of a BMW involved in a police pursuit crash that injured seven officers has been released on bail while officers investigate him for driving without insurance or a licence.
At around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, five police vehicles collided with the BMW that was being pursued down Tyneside’s A1.
Two people were arrested, and the A1 was closed for most of Wednesday as crash investigators worked on the scene near Denton, Newcastle.
Traffic officers from National Highways were assisting with traffic management, which included the implementation of diversions.
A few hours earlier, blue lights continued to flash on an unmarked police car that had been crushed by the central reservation barrier.
A police detection dog was sent into a black BMW that was wedged between two marked police cars.
The damaged vehicles were also seen being lifted onto low-loaders.
What we know:
The A1 was closed between J73 (Swalwell) and J75 (Denton) while police conducted an extensive investigation following the crash at around 2.30am, according to the Highways Agency.
Northumbria Police said officers attempted to stop a car in the Whickham area of Gateshead at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday due to concerns about how it was being driven, but it fled the scene, prompting a pursuit when it was spotted at around 2.25 a.m.
Two minutes later, the car collided with five police vehicles, and A1 was closed in both directions for nearly 12 hours.
The injured police officers all sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and four have been released. Northumbria Police said two people are still in hospital for observation, while one is being treated for a leg injury.
A man in his twenties was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury through dangerous driving, while a woman in her twenties was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
Northumbria Police confirmed on Thursday morning that the man was released on police bail while being investigated for dangerous driving, failure to stop when required, no insurance, and driving without a licence.
A serious crash on Newcastle’s A1 involved multiple vehicles. (Reach)
The woman in her twenties has been released and will face no further charges after being arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving. However, the police said she will be investigated for possession of class A and B drugs.
Superintendent Michelle Caisley of Northumbria Police confirmed that an investigation was underway to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
What We Don’t Know
Aside from the fact that they are police officers, the identities of those injured are unknown.
The nature of the majority of their injuries remains unknown.
The identities of the two people in the BMW were also not revealed.
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