Five people in hospital after multiple police cars crash near Newcastle

Five people are in hospital after a crash involving a number of police cars that closed one of the busiest roads in the north-east of England. The collision happened just before 2.30am on the northbound carriageway of the A1 near junction 75 and the Denton Burn roundabout, near Newcastle. Images from the scene show four badly damaged police cars and two other vehicles, one on its side, with debris scattered across the road. One of the police cars had had its roof torn off. The closure of the A1 during rush hour between junctions 73 and 75 caused huge tailbacks, with diversions in place. National Highways estimated that the road would be closed in both directions until at least Wednesday afternoon. A spokesperson said: “A multi-vehicle collision resulting in serious injuries occurred at approximately 0230 this morning. 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 9 April.” Northumbria police said: “Shortly before 2.30am today we received a report of a multi-vehicle collision on the A1 northbound near the Derwenthaugh 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 Derwenthaugh Road junction northbound, and the A69 roundabout southbound.” A spokesperson for North East ambulance service said: “We received a call at 2.29am on Wednesday April 9 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. Motorists should use alternative routes where possible.”