An M&S store in Wallsend has reopened to the public after a car collided with the front of the building, seriously injuring two people. The incident occurred outside the M&S Foodhall at Silverlink Retail Park in North Tyneside on Tuesday, October 13.
Incident details and emergency response
Images from the scene taken yesterday appeared to show a vehicle that seemingly hit the store's glass entrance doors. A police cordon was put in place, and the store was temporarily closed while emergency crews worked at the scene. In a fresh update, the supermarket confirmed the Silverlink store reopened this morning and is trading as normal. The damaged glass entrance door was cordoned off, with repair work carried out throughout the morning, Chronicle Live reports.
Officers, paramedics, firefighters, and an air ambulance crew were dispatched to Silverlink Retail Park following reports of the collision at around 2.25pm. Northumbria Police said yesterday that two people, both in their 60s, were taken to hospital, including one person who was assessed by the Great North Air Ambulance Service crew on site.
Air ambulance and hospital response
The air ambulance service also said on Tuesday: "Our critical care team was activated at 2.46pm to reports of a road traffic collision at Silverlink Retail Park in Wallsend. We had two paramedics and a doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 2.50pm. Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to assess and treat a patient. The patient was taken to hospital by a NEAS road crew, accompanied by our team."
The North East Ambulance Service paramedics were said to have assessed "multiple patients" at the scene. Work is ongoing to establish the circumstances which led to the vehicle seemingly colliding with the premises, police said.
Police statement and witness appeal
Pictures from the scene showed the vehicle was removed from the M&S entrance before 3.45pm. Police also said the driver of the car, a woman in her 70s, remained at the scene to assist police with their enquiries.
A spokesperson for the force said yesterday: "At about 2.25pm today (Tuesday), we received a report of a collision within the Silverlink Retail Park in North Tyneside. It was reported that, for reasons yet to be established, a car collided with the front of a premises. Two pedestrians - a man and woman, both aged in their 60s – sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. The driver of the car – a woman in her 70s – remained at the scene to assist with police enquiries. Anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed anything, including those with dashcam footage, should contact us online or via 101. Please quote reference: NP-20261013-0624."
