A1 crash: Eyewitness tells of "most horrific thing I've ever seen"

An eyewitness to a crash on the A1 at Newark said it was the most horrific thing she had ever seen.

Mrs Rebecca Pitcher was driving just in front of the vehicles involved in the crash on the northbound carriageway, a few hundred metres from the turn-off to the A46, at around 7.55am this morning.

It is believed two lorries, a van, and three cars were involved.

She said: “I was four cars in front of it all, so I saw it in my rear view mirror.

“Everyone was whacking their hazards on and had come to a stop.”

Photographs show that a lorry landed on top of what is believed to be a silver van.

Mrs Pitcher, from Fernwood, said: “I stopped to call the emergency services. Within minutes, the helicopter (air ambulance) was there.

“I spent 15 minutes on the phone describing everything I could see.”

'I am scared to death of the A1'

Having returned to work at Kelham Hall this week from maternity leave, Mrs Pitcher said the frightening incident meant that she would not drive on the road again.

“I have driven that road for 14 years," she said.

“When I saw the crash, I thought ‘oh my goodness’. It was the most horrific thing I have ever seen.

“I normally travel through town because I am scared to death of the A1, so many times I have seen people near-miss on there.

“I cannot go down the A1 because I am too terrified.”

A man who was trapped in the wreckage following the crash was extricated from his vehicle by the fire service.

He has suffered serious injuries and has been flown to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.

The A1 southbound has now re-opened but the northbound carriageway is not expected to re-open until 8pm.

Police are appealing for eye-witnesses, or anyone travelling on the southbound carriageway who had a dash cam which captured the crash, to contact them.

Call Nottinghamshire Police on 101.