A woman in her 20s has died following a serious collision on the A19 in Sunderland after a police pursuit, Northumbria Police have confirmed. The crash occurred at around 3am on Sunday, closing the road in both directions between the A1231 at Hylton Grange and the A184 at Testos roundabout for nearly 12 hours.
The incident began when officers spotted a white BMW M135 travelling on the A184 in Gateshead. The vehicle failed to stop when instructed, and a pursuit was authorised. Shortly after, the BMW was seen driving south on the northbound carriageway near Sunderland before colliding with a grey Volkswagen Sharan travelling north.
Emergency services attended the scene, where the female passenger from the BMW was pronounced dead. A male passenger, also in his 20s, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The male driver of the Sharan was treated for minor injuries. The driver of the BMW, a 24-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody.
Northumbria Police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will conduct an independent investigation. Sergeant Greg Huntley of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said the family of the deceased are being supported by specially trained officers.
The A19 reopened later on Sunday after recovery and clearance work. National Highways confirmed that collision investigation had taken place and thanked motorists for their patience during the closure.
