The A19 has been closed in both directions near Sunderland following a serious crash involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and a car. The incident occurred around 11:30 AM on Monday, March 24, 2025, forcing emergency services to respond swiftly to the scene.
According to reports, police, paramedics, and firefighters were dispatched to the major road, which was closed between the A1231 at Hylton and the A184 Newcastle Road. This closure sparked significant traffic delays in the area, with the North East Ambulance Service quickly deploying several emergency crews to handle the situation.
National Highways North East confirmed that the A19 would likely remain closed for several hours as they continued to manage the aftermath of the crash. The incident has led to long queues of traffic as motorists are advised to find alternative routes.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson commented on the situation, stating: “Just after 11:30 AM this morning, we received a report of a two-vehicle collision on the A19 Northbound, near to Nissan Works. Emergency services are currently on scene. Both the northbound and southbound carriageways of the A19 are currently closed. Road users are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.”
The North East Ambulance Service reported that their first call about the crash came at 11:29 AM. To respond effectively, they dispatched two ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a rapid response paramedic, a duty officer, and two crews from their Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). They also called upon the support of the Great North Air Ambulance Service, which was activated at 11:33 AM and arrived at the scene by 12:07 PM.
In addition to the closure of the A19, reports from the North East Ambulance Service indicated that their critical care team worked alongside other emergency responders to assess and treat an injured victim at the site of the collision.
Traffic in the area remains heavily congested due to the incident, leading to prompted diversions for motorists. National Highways announced on social media: “The A19 remains closed in both directions due to a multi-vehicle collision. Emergency services continue to work at the scene, and the road is likely to remain closed for several hours. Please allow extra journey time if in the area.”
In response to the chaos, local authorities urged traffic participants to navigate alternate routes, given the ongoing nature of the response effort and the necessity of emergency services on the scene.
As investigations continue, updates on the condition of individuals involved in the accident remain pending. Reports have not detailed any injuries severe enough to require hospital transport, though the Great North Air Ambulance confirmed they did assess and treat a patient. A spokesperson for GNAAS remarked: “Our critical care team was activated to reports of a road traffic collision on the A19. We had a doctor and two paramedics respond in a critical care car, arriving on scene and teaming up with the North East Ambulance Service to deliver care.”
The North East continues to face substantial road disruption, particularly affecting the routes leading into and out of Sunderland. Local agencies are monitoring the situation closely as they provide information and updates to the public about ongoing traffic conditions and alternatives for transportation.
The public can stay informed about the closure and subsequent developments via various traffic news updates and the National Highways social media channels, where more information about suggested diversions and ongoing traffic management may be found.
As emergency services remain engaged in their response to the two-vehicle collision near Sunderland, the situation serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of road travel and the importance of road safety. Although no fatalities have been reported, accidents of this nature can escalate quickly, requiring a rapid and coordinated response from multiple emergency services.
