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Two people have been arrested following the serious crash on the A1 after a police chase involving several cars.
The A1 was closed for more than 12 hours after a serious crash involving five police cars chasing a BMW in Newcastle.
The crash happened following an authorised pursuit, Northumbria Police confirmed.
Seven officers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Four were discharged, while two remain there for observation and one officer is being treated for a leg injury.
Two people in the BMW were unhurt.
Now, a man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, while a woman in her 20s was taken into custody on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
The collision happened in the early hours of the morning between junctions J73 (Swalwell) and J75 (Denton), and the A1 was shut for hours, causing severe congestion.
Traffic was blocked off from about 2.30am until 3pm when all lanes were opened after the car wreckage was towed away.
What happened in the moments before the crash
Northumbria Police said officers tried to stop a dark grey BMW M Sport car in the Whickham area, Gateshead, after ‘concerns about the manner it was being driven.’
It drove off and was later spotted in the Swalwell area. Roads policing officers got behind the car at 2.25am and a pursuit was authorised, the force said.
Then at 2.27am, the BMW and five police cars, including an unmarked police vehicle, were ‘involved in a collision on the northbound section of the A1 near the Derwent Haugh Road junction.’
Aftermath of the A1 crash
Footage shows the wreckage of a black car, thought to be a Volvo XC90, flipped on its side on the central reservation with debris scattered across the carriageway.
Its rear has been badly smashed in and the rear wheels dislocated.
A badly damaged police car can be seen crashed further ahead with two others behind a car that appears to be a BMW.
One of the police vehicles appears to have had its roof cut open to release the casualties, with pieces of metal seen on the road.
A crash probe is ongoing, with a forensic crash investigation team at the scene.
National Highways said the A1 remains closed for an ‘ongoing complex collision investigation following a very serious multi-vehicle collision’ this morning.
It said: ‘A multi-vehicle collision resulting in serious injuries occurred at approximately 0230 this morning (Wednesday 9th April).
‘Due to the severity of the collision a full Northumbria Police investigation is underway and they advise that it will be protracted.’
The area has ‘significant delays’ on approach to the cordon from both directions and local roads nearby are also ‘heavily congested,’ National Highways warned.
One frustrated driver took to social media after being stuck at the road closure, saying he had been ‘at a standstill for an hour.’
Another motorist said that ‘traffic will be horrendous going into Newcastle and over the bridge.’
Supt Michelle Caisley 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.’
This section of the A1 has no official diversion route, which means drivers should plan to use alternative roads, the highways authority said.
Traffic alerts show heavy congestion on the A191, which runs parallel to the A1 until the River Tyne.
The ambulance service said it dispatched five crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer and two crews from the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and it requested support from the air ambulance, who rushed to the scene by road.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) told Metro there has been no referral or contact from the force at this stage.
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