EMERGENCY crews are currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision after a car driving on the A177 flyover near Bowburn left the road and landed on its roof in the central reservation of the A1(M). 

Officers who attended the scene at 10.35am say that the crash, which occured near to junction 61 of the A1(M) Northbound (Bowburn Interchange), has seen a mass road closure of the A-road while emergency services attend to the injured.

Representatives of the fire service, police, ambulance and air ambulance have all attended the incident.

Read more: Congestion builds as A1(M) Bowburn remains closed due to serious accident

After the incident occured, the driver and passenger of the car that left the A177 flyover were rescued by emergency services. 

One occupant was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary Major Trauma Centre via air ambulance, while the other was transported to the University Hospital North Durham by road ambulance.  

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We received a call at 10:33am this morning to reports of a road traffic incident on the A1 northbound in County Durham.

"We dispatched one ambulance crew, three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and an officer, and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

"Two patients were taken to hospital for further treatment; the first patient was taken by road to the University Hospital North Durham (UHND), and the second patient was flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary Major Trauma Centre (RVI MTC)."

Read more: LIVE: Crash on A1(M) near Bowburn as traffic comes to a stop - live updates

The road is currently closed in both directions to allow the emergency services to survey the scene, which has seen miles of traffic stopped.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: "Police are dealing with a serious collision on the A1(M) at Junction 61, Bowburn Interchange.

"At approximately 10.35am this morning, a vehicle which was driving on the A177 flyover has left the carriageway and landed on its roof in the central reservation of the A1(M) below.

Read more: Road out of Durham city to shut for 11 weeks of gas works

"The driver of the car freed themselves from the wreckage and the passenger was cut free. No other injuries have been reported.

"Emergency services are on the scene and both the A1(M) and the A177 are closed in both directions. The road is likely to remain closed for a considerable time.

"Drivers are urged to avoid the area and find an alternative route if possible."

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service added: "We are currently in attendance at a road traffic Collison on the A1(M) Northbound near Junction 61 (Bowburn). Two appliances from Durham and Spennnymoor along with our Target Response Vehicle were mobilised to the scene. Diversions are in place and motorists are urged to avoid the area & find an alternative route.”

The A1(M) is expected to be closed until at least midnight tonight to allow for emergency services and engineers to carry out work and investigate the structural impact of the car itting the barrier.

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