A Northumbria Police officer is fighting for life in hospital after a Mercedes crashed into a parked police vehicle on the A189 Spine Road in Northumberland. The incident occurred near East Hartford, following an earlier road traffic collision in the area.
Details of the Incident
Emergency services were first called at around 11:10 PM on Monday, June 8, after reports of a crash involving a Land Rover Freelander and a Ford Explorer on the southbound carriageway near the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Hospital. Police said the occupants of the Land Rover fled on foot after the collision.
Shortly afterward, a black Mercedes CLC collided with a fully-marked police car that was parked on the southbound carriageway. The officer inside the squad car was critically injured and taken to hospital, where they remain in a critical condition.
Arrest and Investigation
The driver of the Mercedes, a 73-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and remains in police custody. Northumbria Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit has launched an inquiry and is appealing for witnesses, particularly those with dashcam footage.
Assistant Chief Constable Helena Barron said: "Our thoughts are very much with the officer, their loved ones and all those impacted by what has happened. We will continue to support their family and colleagues at this difficult time."
Emergency Services Response
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic incident on the A189 Spine Road in Cramlington shortly before midnight on Monday 8 June. We dispatched two ambulance crews, one duty officer and were supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service. Two patients were taken to hospital by road for further treatment."
The Great North Air Ambulance Service added: "Our critical care team was activated at 11:39 PM to reports of a road traffic collision on the A189 in Cramlington. We had a paramedic and doctor on a rapid response vehicle and they arrived on scene at 11:55 PM. Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat a patient and accompanied them to hospital."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police via social media, live chat, or by calling 101, quoting reference number NP-20260608-1198.
