Children seriously injured in car crash
YOUNGSTERS HURT WHEN VEHICLE OVERTURNED NEAR BRIDGE
TWO children are fighting for their lives after a car smashed through a barrier and overturned near the Redheugh Bridge.
Police were called to the northbound carriageway of the A184 in Gateshead at 6pm on Tuesday after an off-duty paramedic raised the alarm.
Five passengers – the 19-year-old female driver, a 32-year-old passenger and three children aged 15, 13 and 11 – were all rescued from the car. They were taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary where the 13-year-old and 11-year-old are fighting for their lives.
The other passengers’ injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Pictures show the VW Polo on its roof after the incident. The bridge was closed to motorists for more than three and a half hours while police cleared the scene and carried out investigations.
Queueing northbound traffic stretched back towards the A1, while in central Newcastle buses and drivers faced diversions.
Police and fire crews were called along with five ambulances, a Hazardous Area Response Team, a trauma paramedic, a cardiac arrest paramedic and a support unit from the Great North Air Ambulance.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service also attended the incident and confirmed that the incident had “concluded” shortly before 7pm, though the bridge remained closed until around 9.40pm.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said an investigation into the crash is under way and they are appealing for witnesses.
Witnesses can contact police on 101 quoting log 829 11/04/17.