Two motorists have died and three passengers have been seriously injured following a devastating crash on the A1 in Northumberland.
Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Saturday after a collision involving a silver Nissan Juke and a blue Vauxhall Corsa at the Wandylaw junction, north of Alnwick.
According to Northumbria Police, the Nissan Juke was travelling southbound when it collided with the Vauxhall Corsa, which was heading in the opposite direction.
The driver of the Nissan Juke, a woman in her 50s, and the driver of the Vauxhall Corsa, a man in his 40s, were both pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of emergency responders.
Three passengers sustained serious injuries in the collision. They include a woman in her 20s and a teenage boy who were travelling in the Nissan Juke, as well as a woman in her 20s who was a passenger in the Vauxhall Corsa. All three were transported to hospital for treatment.
Sergeant Alex Partington of Northumbria Police described the incident as a tragedy.
“This is a devastating incident where two people have tragically lost their lives while three others remain in a serious condition,” he said.
The crash prompted the closure of a stretch of the A1 in both directions between Ellingham and Purdy Lodge while specialist collision investigators examined the scene. The road remained shut for around 10 hours before reopening later in the day.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was travelling in the area around the time of the crash or who may have captured relevant dashcam footage.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Northumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit.
Investigations remain ongoing.