Overview
- Northumbria Police said officers attempted to stop a white BMW M135 on the A184 around 2:55am before a pursuit was authorised.
- The BMW was then seen travelling south on the A19 northbound in Sunderland and collided with a grey Volkswagen Sharan at about 3am.
- A female passenger in the BMW was declared dead at the scene, a male passenger remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries, and the Volkswagen driver sustained injuries not deemed serious.
- The 24-year-old BMW driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving as the force referred the incident to the IOPC for an independent investigation.
- The A19 was closed in both directions between the A1231 and A184 for several hours with diversions in place and has since reopened; earlier, NEAS reported three people taken to hospital and one treated at the scene.