At least four police cars are wrecked in devastating crash as ‘pursuit’ of BMW ends in disaster and shuts major road

By ROBERT FOLKER[1]

Published: 08:37, 9 April 2025 | Updated: 10:21, 9 April 2025

Five people have been rushed to hospital after a horror crash involving at least four police vehicles on a major road.

A section of the A1 near Denton, Newcastle, remains closed in both directions following the multi-vehicle collision on the northbound carriageway shortly before 2.30am on Wednesday.

Shocking pictures of the aftermath show four damaged police cars on the scene. It is unclear whether a police van on the scene was also involved.

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.

Two black cars, a Volvo and a BMW, were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side.

Five people were taken to hospital for further treatment, confirmed the North East Ambulance Service.

The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut beyond rush hour and into the afternoon while 'complex' police investigations are carried out into the 'very serious' crash, National Highways said on X (formerly Twitter[2]).

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.

A section of a major motorway has been closed in both directions following a horror crash involving at least four police vehicles

A section of a major motorway has been closed in both directions following a horror crash involving at least four police vehicles

The multi-vehicle crash happened on the northbound carriageway of the A1 motorway near Denton, Newcastle shortly before 2.30am on Wednesday

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 police cars on the scene

Shocking pictures of the aftermath show four damaged police cars on the scene

One police car has been left without a roof and three of its doors

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

While others have smashed windows and parts scattered across all three lanes

Two black cars were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side

Two black cars were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side

It is unclear whether a police van on the scene was also involved

It is unclear whether a police van on the scene was also involved

'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 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.

'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.'

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service post on X said: 'We are currently dealing with an Incident on the A1.

The road will be closed in both directions between Scotswood Road and A69 Denton for at least the next 5 hours.'

Five people have been rushed to hospital following the crash which happened at around 2.30am on Wednesday

Five people have been rushed to hospital following the crash which happened at around 2.30am on Wednesday

Crash investigators have been sent to the scene of the major pile-up,

Crash investigators have been sent to the scene of the major pile-up,

The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut beyond rush hour and into the afternoon

The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut beyond rush hour and into the afternoon

The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside, after the major collision

The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside, after the major collision

National Highways said the A1 will be closed between Swalwell in Gateshead and Denton in both directions into Wednesday afternoon

National Highways said the A1 will be closed between Swalwell in Gateshead and Denton in both directions into Wednesday afternoon

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 9th April.'

References

  1. ^ ROBERT FOLKER (www.dailymail.co.uk)
  2. ^ Twitter (www.dailymail.co.uk)