One dead and two injured in Whitley Bay road smash

Jul 11 2009 by Sonia Sharma, The Journal

TWO people remain critically ill in hospital after being hurt in a road accident in which a man died. The men, aged 21 and 25, were in a VW Golf which went 30ft down a ravine at Hartley Lane, Whitley Bay.

There were two other people inside the vehicle. A 20-year-old man died after the crash on the road, which connects New Hartley with Earsdon past the Beehive pub.

Fire crews mounted a massive rescue operation to save the group. Around 25 firefighters went to the scene to help.

Two passengers were trapped in the car and had to be freed by crews using cutting gear. It took an hour to release them.

They were placed on spinal stretchers and taken back up the ravine with the help of line rescue equipment.

They were taken to North Tyneside General Hospital with life-threatening injuries but were later transferred to Newcastle General Hospital, where they are being treated.

Their 20-year-old companion was also taken to hospital but he did not survive. Police have not yet identified him.

Hartley Lane was closed for four hours after the crash on Thursday evening.

Police officers returned to the scene yesterday afternoon to carry out a forensic search of the area. The road was closed again for a short while for investigations to take place.