A689 Bishop Auckland: 3 injured after crash involving police car during exercise

Durham Police have confirmed an inquiry has been opened into the collision on the A689 Newton Cap, Bishop Auckland, at around 3.10pm on Monday (15 May).

They said three police cars and a prison van were heading towards the city center for an exercise and had turned on their blue lights and sirens at the time.

Read more: Bishop Auckland A689: Three in hospital after multi-vehicle accident

They said the collision happened when an oncoming Kia Rio collided with one of the police vehicles.

Two officers and a third Durham Constabulary employee were injured in the incident and taken to hospital for treatment, but have since been released.

An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, said: “There were three marked police vehicles and what appeared to be a prison van traveling in convoy on the A689 towards Bishop Auckland.

“The leading police vehicle overtook a convoy of traffic and stopped just short of the bridge.

READ ALSO: A689 Bishop Auckland Crash: Three Taken To Hospital

“The cars heading towards Bishop Auckland were stopped and the officer waved from the driver’s window, signaling the rest of the convoy to come through.

“However, an oncoming car could not be stopped and collided head-on with the police vehicle in front.”

A Durham Police spokesman said: “Police were called around 3.10pm on Monday afternoon (15 May) to receive reports of a collision on the A689 Newton Cap, Bishop Auckland.”

“Three police cars and a prison van were heading downtown on an exercise, using flashing lights and sirens.

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“The collision occurred when an oncoming Kia Rio collided with one of the police vehicles.

“Two police officers and a third Durham Constabulary worker were injured and taken to hospital for treatment but have since been released.

“Nobody else was hurt. An investigation is ongoing.”