Two pedestrians have been seriously injured after a vehicle crashed into an M&S foodhall at Silverlink retail park in Wallsend, prompting a large emergency response. Multiple people were assessed by medics at the scene.
Police, paramedics, firefighters and the Great North Air Ambulance Service were called shortly after 2.15pm today. A police cordon remains in place, and drivers have been asked to avoid the area. Marks and Spencer confirmed the store is currently closed.
Victims taken to hospital
Northumbria Police confirmed that a man and a woman, both aged in their 60s, were taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) with serious injuries. Both were pedestrians at the time of the collision. They were taken to hospital by road, with one patient supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service crews en route.
The North East Ambulance Service said "multiple patients" were assessed at the scene. A 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."
Driver remains at scene
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 that led to the collision with the premises.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "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."
Emergency response and appeal
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service sent three fire engines to the scene, with crews spending almost an hour assisting police and paramedics. Silverlink bosses confirmed they are supporting emergency services. A Savills spokesperson, property manager of Silverlink Retail Park, said: "We can confirm that an incident has taken place in the car park at Silverlink Retail Park. The site is supporting the emergency services as they respond to the incident."
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We can confirm that earlier this afternoon (Tuesday 13 October), three fire appliances attended an incident at a commercial premises in North Tyneside. An emergency call was received by our Fire Control Team at 2.21pm and crews from Byker, Tynemouth and Wallsend Community Fire Stations were dispatched to a retail park in Wallsend. Upon arrival, firefighters worked alongside colleagues from the North East Ambulance Service and Northumbria Police after a vehicle collided with the frontage of a shop unit. Firefighters left the scene at 3.26pm."
Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them online or via 101, quoting reference NP-20261013-0624. Emergency services remain at the scene, with a police cordon in place and drivers advised to avoid the area.
