Whiplash news
06/01/2010

Thirteen suffer whiplash in A1 pile-up

After heavy snow hit the A1 in Gateshead, treacherous conditions caused an eight-car accident which left 13 people in hospital suffering from whiplash and minor injuries and a 15-year-old girl with serious injuries.

The crash shut the southbound carriageway and briefly delayed northbound traffic to allow an air ambulance to land and evacuate the injured teenager.

The road was closed for a total of five hours while police worked to recover all vehicles involved in the accident. Southbound traffic experienced long tailbacks and was eventually re-diverted through the Team Valley to ease the congestion.

Anyone who witnessed the traffic collision is being asked to contact Northumbria Police.

The cause of the original crash has not yet been specified although the icy roads are likely to have been a major factor. It is unknown if any of those involved in the crash will make a whiplash compensation claim for the car accident.