Police appeal for witnesses after debris closed lanes on the A1

Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward and speak to them after debris caused lanes on a Newcastle motorway to be closed for almost three hours.

Officers were alerted to "significant debris and rubble" on the A1 northbound, just past the A167 Ponteland Road exit, shortly before 2.25pm on Tuesday, January 30.

It was reported that a white Ford Transit 350 van had been travelling on the road towing a silver trailer, when for reasons currently unknown, the trailer gave way and collided with the central reservation. 

Police and National Highways attended the incident, in which no one was injured but a handful of passing vehicles were damaged.

Officers have confirmed that the driver of the van was located at the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries into the incident.

Lane closures were in place for almost three hours while work was carried out to clear the debris and uplift the trailer.

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Police are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time that may have dashcam footage.

Anyone with information should use the ‘Report’ page of the Northumbria Police website or call 101, quoting log number NP-20240130-0544.