A 20-year-old man has been formally charged following a high-speed police pursuit that ended in a multi-vehicle crash on the A1 in Tyneside, Northern England, leaving seven police officers injured and causing significant damage to law enforcement vehicles. The dramatic early-morning incident on April 9 led to the closure of the northbound carriageway near the Derwent Haugh Road junction, straddling the Gateshead and Newcastle border.
Northumbria Police identified the suspect as Mazyar Azarbonyad, of Sylvia Terrace in Durham. He is facing a series of serious charges, including dangerous driving, two counts of failing to stop for police, two counts of driving without a licence, and two counts of driving without insurance. Azarbonyad is scheduled to appear before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
The crash, which occurred around 2:25 a.m., involved a total of five police vehicles and a BMW, the latter believed to have been driven by the suspect. Graphic images from the scene showed extensive damage to several of the police units, with debris scattered across the roadway and one patrol car’s roof completely torn off in the collision.
Seven police officers were injured in the crash, though they have since been discharged from hospital. Fortunately, both occupants of the BMW, including Azarbonyad, were reported to have escaped physical harm.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson confirmed that the incident began after officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the Whickham area of Gateshead due to concerns over its erratic driving. The driver failed to comply, and the vehicle was later spotted in the Swalwell area, prompting a coordinated pursuit by specially trained traffic officers.
A woman in her 20s, who was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving, will not face charges in relation to the crash itself. However, she remains under investigation for alleged drug possession and has been released on bail pending further inquiries.
The chase and subsequent crash have raised concerns over driver safety and the risks officers face during high-speed pursuits. Authorities are now piecing together the sequence of events that led to the collision, which caused extensive damage to police property and disrupted traffic in the early morning hours.
Following the crash, the northbound A1 was closed for several hours as emergency services responded to the scene and accident investigators examined the wreckage. Cleanup crews later worked to clear the debris and restore traffic flow.
Mazyar Azarbonyad remains in custody and is expected to face court proceedings that could result in substantial penalties if convicted on all charges. Dangerous driving, particularly in connection with fleeing law enforcement, is treated as a serious offence in the UK and can carry lengthy custodial sentences, alongside driving bans and financial penalties.
Northumbria Police have reiterated their commitment to holding dangerous drivers accountable and emphasized the dedication of their officers who put themselves at risk to protect the public.
As the legal process unfolds, further updates are expected on the investigation and the suspect’s court appearance. The force is also reviewing the incident to determine whether any procedural changes are needed to improve safety during future vehicle pursuits.
