Two police officers remain in hospital more than a day after a catastrophic crash triggered after a high-speed pursuit ended in ‘absolute carnage’, leaving seven cops in hospital and six cars wrecked.
A fifth officer has now been discharged, the Mirror reports, while two remain for in hospital. The two occupants of the BMW were uninjured.
It comes after a man was today bailed as detectives continue their probe into the road smash, which took place after officers were chasing a dark grey BMW along the A1 near Denton in Newcastle.
One unmarked police Volvo was ripped apart as it slammed into the central reservation barrier before flipping onto its side.
And fire crews had to cut the roof off of another crumpled police cruiser – with debris from the smash left strewn across the dual carriageway.
The chase was sparked when cops spotted the BMW M Sport being driven suspiciously in the Wickham area of Gateshead.
The driver allegedly failed to stop after police signalled them to do so before then speeding off. Four marked patrol cars and an unmarked motor chased it north before the crash at 2.30am close to junction 79 near Newcastle.
A man and a woman in their 20s were arrested at the scene. The woman has since been released with no further action, while the male has been released on police bail, a spokeswoman for Northumbria Police told MailOnline this morning.
The horror pile-up closed the road for more than 12 hours, with glass and debris left scattered across all three lanes. A police expert claimed the devastation may have been caused during a ‘failed attempt to box-in’ the fleeing BMW.
Seven police officers were taken to hospital after a horror crash involving five police vehicles
The pile-up 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
According to the former detective, the collision could have been triggered 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 added those involved in the crash were ‘exceptionally lucky’ to come away alive, saying: ‘Something has gone horribly wrong. One vehicle is almost unrecognisable.’
The retired officer added: ‘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.’
Stunned locals living close to the crash site described it as ‘absolute carnage’ yesterday 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 spent the day probing the incident, with officers seen searching a handbag and other belongings from inside the car involved in the chase.
Police said concerns were raised about how the BMW was being driven at 2am. A pursuit began shortly after 2.25am, with the wipe-out crash happening around two minutes later.
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 yesterday 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
A man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by police, driving with no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with licence. He has been released on bail.
A woman in her 20s was released with no further action to be taken in relation to the arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
However, she has been released on police bail in relation to the following, pending further enquiries into alleged possession of a Class A and a Class B drug, police said,
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.
The scene on the A1 Western bypass in Newcastle this morning, which was closed in both directions
The road is closed between Swalwell, in Gateshead, and Denton, Newcastle
‘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.’
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.
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
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
Crash investigators start their probe into the collision that ended in seven people in hospital
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.
‘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 the incident has not been referred to the watchdog.
