Appeal after suspected stolen vehicle crashes on A1

THREE alleged carjackers abandoned a stolen vehicle in flames after crashing it on the A1, police say.

Officers received a report that a Blue Ford Fiesta had been stolen while it was stationary at traffic lights on Barrack Road in Fenham, Newcastle.

Three men are said to have approached the vehicle and assaulted the driver before making off towards Blakelaw at around 1.30am on Tuesday morning.

The driver was taken to hospital with a head injury but it was not deemed to be lifethreatening.

Then at around 1.40am, police were called to the A1 northbound carriageway near to the junction for Kingston Park where they were told a vehicle had collided with the central reservation.

Upon arrival, emergency services discovered this was the same car which had been stolen earlier and had been abandoned in the road.

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “The vehicle was on fire but the three occupants of the vehicle had been seen fleeing the scene.

“An investigation was launched to identify and trace those involved and a short time later a 22-year-old man was arrested by police. “He remains in custody at this time. “Any witnesses to either the robbery or the collision are being encouraged to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 56 12/06/18.”