A five-vehicle crash involving police automobiles has closed a part of the A1 in Newcastle.
The collision occurred simply earlier than 02:30 BST on the northbound carriageway close to junction 75 and the Denton Burn roundabout.
North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) stated 5 folks had been taken to hospital.
Footage from the scene present broken police automobiles and a automotive seemingly on its aspect.
The highway between junction 73 and 75 is predicted to stay shut till the afternoon whereas a police investigation is carried out, Nationwide Highways stated, and diversions are in place.
On the scene, BBC Look North reporter Mark Denten stated an “extensively broken” black 4×4 was on its aspect and particles could possibly be seen scattered throughout the highway.
4 police automobiles is also seen, he stated, with one a number of metres down the highway showing to be essentially the most severely broken.
BBC Radio Newcastle reporter Rebecca O’Neill stated one of the cars was missing its roof.
She stated folks crossing a footpath close to to the scene heard a police helicopter hovering over the world for a “good couple of hours” in a single day.
Drivers have been suggested to search out different routes if doable.
The crash hit the morning rush hour with motorists pressured to search out different routes over the River Tyne. It led to 30-to-40 minute queues over the Redheugh Bridge and about 40-minute delays via the Tyne Tunnel.
NEAS stated it had despatched 5 crews, a specialist paramedic, an obligation officer and two crews from its Hazardous Space Response Workforce (HART).
