Eight people in hospital after Cramlington police pursuit ends in crash

Eight people have been taken to hospital following a crash in Seaton Burn, Cramlington. Credit: ITV

Eight people are in hospital following a crash which happened following a police pursuit in Northumberland.

Emergency services were called to Seaton Burn, in Cramlington, at 9:25am following a collision on the A1068 Fisher Lane.

Northumbria Police confirmed officers had been pursuing a suspected stolen van, which had failed to stop, prior to it crashing into a car near the Snowy Owl pub.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

One patient was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle. Three others were taken to the RVI by ambulance and a further four patients were taken to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital.

Motorists are being advised that the road will be closed for some time.

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “Shortly after 8.40am today (Friday) police received a report that a van had been stolen from outside of an address in Newburn.

“A short time later, the vehicle was sighted travelling towards Cramlington and the occupant failed to stop when instructed by police.

“Following a short pursuit, the van was in a collision with a car on the A1068 Fisher Lane northbound, near to the Snowy Owl pub.

“Emergency services are in attendance at the scene and the road is currently closed in both directions between the A1 at Seaton Burn and A1172 Station Road.

“As is standard practice in such incidents, the collision has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct."

The road remains closed following the crash, which led to eight people being taken to hospital. Credit: ITV

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said: "We received a call at 9.25am this morning (Friday 8 September) to reports of a road traffic incident on the A1068 junction with Fisher Lane in Cramlington.

"We dispatched six ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, a specialist paramedic, three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and requested the support of our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by air and road.

"Four patients were taken by road to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH), and three patients were taken by road and one by air to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for further treatment."

People are being asked to avoid Seaton Burn roundabout to Fisher Lane.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police via its website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230908-0225.

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