A 20-year-old man has been charged in connection with a serious crash during a high-speed police pursuit on the A1 that left seven police officers hospitalised.
📍 The incident occurred in the early hours of 9 April on the northbound carriageway between Junction 73 (Swalwell) and Junction 75 (Denton), near Newcastle.
🚔 Police Officers Injured in Multi-Vehicle Collision
The crash involved multiple marked and unmarked police vehicles and a dark grey BMW M Sport, which had allegedly failed to stop for police moments earlier. Seven officers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital. All have since been discharged.
The occupants of the BMW, including driver Mazyar Azarbonyad and a female passenger, were uninjured.
🚨 Charges Brought Against Mazyar Azarbonyad
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, of Sylvia Terrace, Durham, has now been charged with:
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Dangerous driving
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Two counts of failing to stop when required by police
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Two counts of driving without insurance
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Two counts of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
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An additional four counts of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
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Four further counts of no insurance use
He is scheduled to appear before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
👮 Passenger Released Without Further Action on Driving Offence
A woman in her 20s who was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving has been released with no further action on that matter. However, she remains on police bail for suspected drug possession while further enquiries continue.
📍 Location Tied to Infamous 2010 Incident
The crash occurred near the location of a notorious 2010 incident in which gunman Raoul Moat shot PC David Rathband, leaving him permanently blind. The latest collision has sparked fresh debate over the safety of high-speed pursuits on major roads.
🛣️ Road Closures and Delays
The A1 was closed in both directions for several hours following the crash, leading to severe congestion across the region during the Wednesday morning commute. National Highways confirmed the road was fully reopened later that afternoon following recovery and collision investigation.
