The M&S Foodhall at Silverlink retail park in Wallsend has reopened to the public following a crash in which two pedestrians were seriously injured. The retailer confirmed the store reopened on Wednesday morning and is trading as normal, after repairs were carried out during the morning.
Crash and emergency response
The incident took place outside the store on Tuesday afternoon, when a vehicle crashed into the front of the premises. Police, paramedics, firefighters and the Great North Air Ambulance Service were called to the scene shortly after 2.15pm. A police cordon was put in place and drivers were asked to avoid the area. The damaged glass entrance door was boxed off while repairs were undertaken.
Northumbria Police said a man and a woman aged in their 60s were taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) with serious injuries. Both were taken to hospital by road, though one patient was supported by crews from the Great North Air Ambulance Service en route. The North East Ambulance Service added that multiple patients were assessed at the scene.
Driver assists police
The driver of the car, a woman in her 70s, remained at the scene to assist police with their enquiries. Work is ongoing to establish the circumstances which led to the vehicle colliding with the premises.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We dispatched two ambulance crews, one duty officer, one rapid response paramedic, one specialist paramedic and one clinical team leader. We were also supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). We assessed multiple patients at the incident and two patients were taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by road for further treatment."
Appeal for witnesses
Northumbria Police have appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed anything, including those with dashcam footage, to contact them online or via 101, quoting reference NP-20261013-0624.
