A DRIVER has died after a collision between a taxi and a bus on a road bridge crossing the River Tyne.

The fatal smash took place on the A189 Redheugh Bridge between Newcastle and Gateshead at around 11pm on Wednesday.

One of the drivers, a 36-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle, a 53-year-old man, was taken to hospital with a leg injury. His condition is serious but not life-threatening.

Police have not yet confirmed which vehicle the man who died was in at the time of the crash.

Four other people were injured in the collision, two seriously, and were taken to the RVI in Newcastle for treatment.

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said: “The crash involved a taxi and a bus and three casualties were taken by ambulance to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).

“We pre-alerted the major trauma unit that we were taking them in.

“One patient had serious pelvic injuries, another had an open leg wound and the third was in cardiac arrest.

“There were several other walking wounded, and we dispatched a Patient Transport Service (PTC) vehicle and they took three people to the RVI to be checked over."

The bus involved in the collision was a Stagecoach heading into Newcastle city centre.

A spkesman for bus company said: "Shortly after 11pm last night a taxi was involved in a collision with one of our buses on Redheugh Bridge heading towards Newcastle City Centre.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the driver who died and our best wishes remain with the others involved in the incident, including our driver.

"Safety is our highest priority and we will assist police fully with their inquiries into the incident."

The north and southbound carriageways were closed until 8am this morning to allow the collision to be dealt with.

Officers are carrying out enquiries and are appealing for witnesses to forward.

Anyone with any information should contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference 1274 100517.