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A section of a major road 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 near Denton, Newcastle 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, including a BMW, were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side.
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 into the ‘very serious’ crash, National Highways said.
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.
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
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
While others have smashed windows and parts scattered across all three lanes
It is unclear whether a police van on the scene was also involved
Two black cars were also involved in the crash with one of the mangled motors turned completely on its side
‘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 (formerly Twitter) 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.’
National Highways added: ‘Drivers in the north east are advised that the A1 is closed near Newcastle due to a serious collision.
‘The A1 was closed in both directions between junctions 73 and 75 following the collision, involving five vehicles, at 2.30am today (Wednesday 9 April 2025).
‘Emergency services are in attendance and the closure is likely to remain in place beyond peak times to allow for police to carry out their investigations.’