Four people are in hospital, with two fighting for their lives, following a serious crash on a busy North East road today.
Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses after the two-vehicle collision on the A696 north of Ponteland, in Northumberland, shortly before noon today.
Multiple patrol vehicles from Northumbria Police along with two Great North Air Ambulances and three emergency ambulance crews converged on the scene to help the casualties.
Read more: Four taken to hospital after two air ambulances land at scene of North East crash
The crash is reported to have happened at the Milbourne turn-off on the A696. The road remained closed for several hours in both directions between The Highlander pub and Waggon Inn.
Two casualties were airlifted to hospital while two were taken for treatment by road.
A statement released by Northumbria Police this evening said: “Shortly before midday today (Saturday) police received a report two cars had collided north of Ponteland, injuring four people.
“Police and emergency services attended and two people from one car, a man aged 58, and a woman, aged 49, were taken to hospital with serious life-threatening injuries.
“A man, aged 77, and a woman, aged 65, from the second vehicle were also taken to hospital with serious non-life threatening injuries.
Read more: A696 Milbourne crash LIVE: cars collide near Ponteland
“An investigation was launched by officers from the Force’s Motor Patrol department and enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the collision.
“Officers are asking anyone who might have seen what happened, or have dashcam footage from the area, to get in touch.”
Sergeant Russ Surrey from Northumbria Police said: “We are working hard to determine exactly what happened in the moments before this serious collision.
“Four people have been hospitalised and our thoughts are with them and their families and we wish them a full recovery.
“We are now asking for anyone who was driving in the area, and might have dashcam, or anyone who might have seen what happened to come forward. Your information, no matter how small could help us establish a clear picture of events.”
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call to 999 at 11:55 this morning to reports of a two-vehicle road traffic collision on the A696.
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“We sent three emergency ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, our Hazardous Area Response Team and two air ambulance helicopters.
“In total four patients have been taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary with multiple injuries. Two were transported by air and two by road.”
Anyone who can help, contact police by calling 101 or using the ‘Tell us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website and quote log NP-20230923-0399.