A collision between a mobile crane and a heavy goods vehicle caused traffic chaos on the region's busiest road yesterday.
It happened on the northbound carriageway of the A1, near Seaton Burn, north of Newcastle.
Motorists were initially advised to keep their windows shut to avoid inhaling any fumes.
The crane driver was taken by air ambulance to Newcastle General Hospital with serious head and back injuries. A second man, who had to be freed from the wreckage, was taken by ambulance to the same hospital.
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