A two-vehicle collision and a separate vehicle fire led to major delays during rush hour on key roads in the North East. The incidents affected the A1 in Gateshead and the A19 in Sunderland on Monday morning.
Collision at Mill House Roundabout
The first incident occurred at around 6:50 am near the A1 in Gateshead. A two-vehicle collision at Mill House Roundabout in Birtley, close to the junction with the A1231 Sunderland Highway, blocked the road for approximately two hours. Northumbria Police confirmed that officers responded to the report. Drivers faced delays on Sunderland Highway and the A1 Southbound exit sliproad. The road has since fully reopened, and delays have cleared.
Vehicle Fire on A19
Approximately one hour later, emergency services were called to a vehicle fire on the A19 Northbound in Sunderland, between the A690 and the A183. Firefighters from Farringdon and Rainton Bridge Community Fire Stations attended the scene and safely extinguished the blaze. The incident caused long delays, but traffic returned to normal shortly after 8:30 am.
A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "We can confirm that today, Monday, 15th June, two appliances attended an incident in Sunderland. The emergency call came in to our Control Room team at 07:52 and crews from our Farringdon and Rainton Bridge Community Fire Stations were despatched to the A19. The incident involved a vehicle on fire on the northbound carriageway between the A690 and the A183. Firefighters safely extinguished the blaze before leaving the scene shortly after 8:30am."
