Four police vehicles were involved in a serious motorway collision that caused chaos on Wednesday morning, resulting in a closure of the motorway and significant rush hour delays. The incident, which occurred around 2:30 am, took place on the northbound carriageway of the A1 near Denton, Newcastle, during the early morning commute. The collision involved both marked police cars and two unmarked vehicles, with images from the scene showing damage to the police vehicles and one of the unmarked cars overturned, with debris scattered across the road. Another unmarked vehicle was seen ahead of the marked police cars.
National Highways announced that the section of the A1 motorway between junctions 73 and 75 was expected to remain closed beyond the morning rush hour, prompting drivers to follow diversion routes. The congestion in the area was described as heavy, with traffic monitoring services reporting queues extending back to junction 70. A statement from National Highways confirmed that an investigation into the incident had been initiated by Northumbria Police and suggested that the inquiry would be extensive due to the severity of the collision.
Northumbria Police confirmed that diversions had been put in place at the site following a “multi-vehicle collision” that was reported just before 2:30 am. The road closure affected both directions of the A1, with diversions set up from the Derwent Haugh Road junction northbound and the A69 roundabout southbound. Alternative routes were advised for motorists planning to travel through the area, as both the A1 and nearby local roads were experiencing heavy congestion.
In a statement, National Highways urged those intending to drive through the closed stretch of the A1 to plan their journeys in advance and consider using alternative roads. The lack of an official diversion route for this section of the motorway added to the delays reported in both directions. The A19 to the east of Newcastle was also affected by increased traffic as drivers sought alternatives to the closed A1 route.
The closure of the A1 motorway posed significant challenges for commuters, with National Highways recommending careful planning and awareness of the ongoing congestion in the area. The impact of the collision extended to surrounding roads, compounding the traffic problems for drivers. The closure was expected to last throughout the afternoon of the same day, as the investigation by Northumbria Police proceeded.
Drivers were advised to stay updated on the situation and plan their routes accordingly, as the closure of the A1 motorway continued to disrupt traffic flow. The collaboration between emergency services, National Highways, and law enforcement agencies aimed to manage the aftermath of the collision and ensure the safety of all road users. Despite the challenges posed by the closure, authorities worked to mitigate the effects of the incident and provided guidance for drivers navigating through the affected area.