Overview
- Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service attended after a 4:42am call, deploying multiple crews including Hazardous Area Response teams.
- The crossing between Newcastle and Gateshead was shut in both directions during the morning peak and reopened before 8am to around 8:15am, according to local reports.
- Drivers faced several miles of queues with delays of up to about 40 minutes and knock-on congestion across Gateshead and into Newcastle.
- Nearby routes were affected, with reports of a partial blockage at the Tyne Tunnel and disruption on the A19 and A1 corridors.
- National Highways North East deleted a post that had said the Tyne Tunnels were closed, and a local claim about someone climbing scaffolding remains unverified.