Trail of destruction and hospitalised man

attempted to stop people from leaving the scene.

Benwell and Elswick ward councillor Dipu Ahad, visited the scene and he warned that the consequences could have been tragic.

Coun Ahad said: “A lot of people in the area are quite shocked to see the state of the car. “There are steel bollards there. “This could have been a lot worse.

“This is a major route to schools on the morning and the route to the shopping area. There could easily have been children or parents going to school.

“We need to be relieved that there’s no fatalities. And I hope there are no major injuries.”

Coun Ahad said he was stunned when he saw the state of the car. He said: “I haven’t seen a car like this before, especially on a route like this.

“There’s a chicane and traffic lights. I’m just glad no children were in the area.”

Shoppers arriving in Benwell on Tuesday morning stopped to look at the scene of carnage and take pictures.

And locals told of their shock at being greeted by the crime scene.

James Lawson, 85, from Rye Hill, said: “I just can’t see how this has happened. You’d think the bollards would have stopped them. It’s a shock seeing all this.”

Northumbria Police’s collision investigation officers were at the scene throughout the morning. At around 11am, council staff arrived to remove debris from the road, which was reopened to traffic at just before midday. A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “None of the occupants of the car were present at the scene on police arrival.

“A search of the local area was conducted and a 20-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. They are not thought to be life-threatening at this time.

“A 37-year-old man was also treated for minor injuries. He has been arrested and is assisting police with their inquiries”.

Police say they are keen to find three more people who were believed to have been in the car.

They are also appealing for anyone who has dashcam footage from the area to get in touch by calling 101, quoting log 126 250918, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.