Police ‘chase’ crash that hospitalised seven cops and wrecked 5 automobiles might have come after ‘failed try to box-in BMW’, ex police officer says
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A catastrophic police chase that left seven officers in hospital could have been a ‘failed attempt to box-in a BMW’, an ex-detective has said.
Seven police officers were rushed to hospital after a police chase ended in disaster, leaving at least five police cars wrecked and a major dual carriageway shut for more than 12 hours.
A man and a woman in their 20s have been arrested after officers were hospitalised following a high-speed pile-up on the busy A1, near Denton, Newcastle, at around 2.30am this morning.
The dual carriageway was forced shut for several hours between Junction 73 (Swalwell) and Junction 75 (Denton) after a horror smash involving multiple police vehicles and a BMW they were chasing.
Glass and debris were strewn across all three lanes this afternoon, while police sniffer dogs were seen scouring the scene of devastation.
Shocking pictures of the aftermath show four damaged marked police cars and one unmarked police cruiser completely turned on its side. The police cars are pressed up against a dark grey BMW M Sport that was being pursued.
According to a police expert, the collision could have been caused by a ‘tactical pursuit and containment gone horribly wrong’ or that a ‘police vehicle has been rammed by one of the cars they are pursuing’.
He said: ‘If someone is not dead in this melee, they’re exceptionally lucky. Something has gone horribly wrong. One vehicle is almost unrecognisable.
Seven police officers have been taken to hospital after a horror crash involving at least five police vehicles
The multi-vehicle crash happened on the northbound carriageway of the A1 motorway near Denton, Newcastle shortly before 2.30am on Wednesday
Four marked cars were damaged, with one having its roof and doors ripped off, while a fifth unmarked cruiser completely turned on its side
A BMW M Sport was also involved in the crash and had been surrounded by battered police vehicles in the middle of the highway
One of the police vehicles is lifted from the scene of the high-speed crash
‘They’re clearly holding back on a press conference. Normally this happens if there were any fatalities.
‘I suspect if there have been any fatalities police wise, they will be wanting to tell the next of kin first.
‘These officers’ lives are always put at risk, too. You can’t get more highly qualified than British traffic officers. For a crash like this to have happened is a big deal.’
He added ‘easily’ more than £100,000 damage would have been done.
Stunned locals living near where the crash took place described it as ‘absolute carnage’ this morning as they were woken up to police helicopters circling above a scene of devastation.
Residents said they have not seen a major incident in the area since the notorious Raoul Moat manhunt in 2010. The scene of the crash is a stone’s throw from where PC David Rathband was shot by Moat on the roundabout next to the A69.
Investigators have spent the day probing the incident, with officers seen searching a handbag and other belongings from inside the car involved in the chase.
A man in his 20s has subsequently been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and a woman, also aged in her 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving. Both remain in police custody.
The shocking scenes unfolded after police officers attempted to stop a car in the Whickham area of Gateshead at around 2am amid concerns over how the vehicle was being driven.
A dark grey BMW M Sport then raced off and a police pursuit was authorised when it was sighted at around 2.25am.
Just two minutes later the car and five police vehicles were involved in the horror smash, and a section of A1 was closed in both directions for more than 12 hours.
Four of the seven injured officers have since been discharged, while two remain for observation and one is receiving treatment to a leg injury. The two occupants of the BMW were uninjured.
Crash investigators at the scene of the crash which closed the A1 in both directions
Specialist police sniffer dogs have also been spotted at the crash site this afternoon
Shocking pictures of the aftermath show four damaged marked police cars and one unmarked police vehicle (right) completely turned on its side
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
Superintendent Michelle Caisley, from Northumbria Police, said 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.’
Avril Smith has lived next to the highway for 27 years and was left horrified at the pile-up.
‘It was absolute carnage,’ she told MailOnline. ‘It was the sound of the police helicopter which woke me up at 2.45am.
‘I got up and went to the other bedroom and when I opened the blinds there was police and ambulances everywhere.
‘I knew then something serious had happened. I’ve never seen anything this bad before, living here.’
The circumstances that lead the crash and the conditions of those taken to hospital is not know but it is said that ‘serious injuries’ were sustained
The road is closed between Swalwell, in Gateshead, and Denton, Newcastle
At least four police vehicles were involved in the crash on the major road
Smashed glass and debris remains scattered across the road following the crash
Another resident said: ‘It was just shock when I saw what happened. To see see the amount of carnage was mad.
‘I’ve been here 20 years and the only major thing we know to have happened here was when Raoul Moat shot the police officer.
‘It’s such a busy stretch of road that is going to cause chaos.’
Long after the crash, blue lights continued to flash on an unmarked police car which was crushed against the central reservation barrier.
A police detection dog was sent into the BMW which was wedged between the marked police cars.
The process of removing the damaged vehicles and lifting them on to low loaders was under way by lunchtime.
Just after 3pm, more than 12 hours after the incident, police said the A1 had re-opened in both directions.
The A-road is a key route to the airport which is busier due to the Easter holidays.
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.
Crash investigators have been sent to the scene of the pile-up
The scene on the A1, which has been shut in both directions on Tyneside
‘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.’
When approached the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) said that the incident has not been refereed to the watchdog.
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.
‘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 Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that in the early hours of Wednesday morning (April 9) five fire appliances and two officers attended a road traffic collision in Newcastle.
Two black cars were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side
Emergency services rushed to the crash that happened at around 2.30am on Wedesday
Five people have been rushed to hospital following the collision
Crash investigators start their probe into the collision that ended in five people in hospital
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
National Highways said the A1 will be closed between Swalwell in Gateshead and Denton in both directions
‘Our control room team received an emergency call from Northumbria Police for assistance at 2.29am, and crews from Gosforth, Newcastle Central, Swalwell and West Denton Community Fire Stations were dispatched to a location on the A1 northbound near to Denton Burn.
‘Our firefighters assisted blue light colleagues from Northumbia Police and North East Ambulance Service during the multiple-vehicle incident. Crews left the scene at 3.51am.’
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, April 9.’
