Skip to main content

A serious collision on the A697 near Whittingham has left a man in his 50s fighting for his life. The incident, which occurred just after 5pm on Thursday, involved a red Honda quad bike and a white Volkswagen car.

Emergency services rushed to the scene following reports of the collision. The rider of the quad bike sustained severe injuries and was transported to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition. His family has been informed of the situation.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a woman in her 30s, has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and is currently in police custody.

Police Appeal for Information

Northumbria Police’s Roads Policing team is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash and is urging anyone with information to come forward.

Officers are particularly interested in hearing from motorists who were in the area at the time and may have witnessed the incident. They are also appealing for any dashcam or CCTV footage that could provide crucial details about the moments leading up to the collision.

How to Help

If you were driving on the A697 near Whittingham on Thursday evening or have footage that could assist the investigation, please contact Northumbria Police.

You can reach the force by sending a private message on their social media channels or through the live chat function on the Northumbria Police website. Alternatively, you can call 101 and quote reference number NP-20241114-0757.

Police are committed to piecing together the events of this tragic incident to ensure a full and thorough investigation.

Sophie B.
3 days ago
Cannot recommend this driving school and Simon enough. Simon is extremely patient and kind, very adaptive in his teaching style to help suit the student. I never thought I would be able to drive as a nervous driver, let alone pass my test but he has helped me feel confident and capable. He goes above and beyond the job and really cares about his students. The app is also really helpful and detailed to keep you organised and get you test ready. I am genuinely going to miss my lessons as I passed today! Thank you so much Simon and the shift team!
Garry D.
9 months ago
recommends
Highly recommend Shift Driving School. They were an absolute pleasure to deal with from start to finish. Special shout out to my instructor Hassan, who taught me from scratch in just under 6 months. I had no previous driving experience at all and he talked through the steps and skills needed clearly, always supportively pushing me to be my best. Delighted to have passed at first attempt! Couldn’t have done it without the team at Swift and Hassan. Thank you!
Arizah A.
5 days ago
I recently passed my driving test and my instructor Simon, was thorough, and tailored the lessons to improve where I lack.
The mock test is a must as it gave me an indicator if I should proceed or postpone my test.
Overall, reliable, thorough and reasonable driving school.
Denise W.
2 years ago
recommends
I 10000000% recommend this driving school my instructor has been appsalutly amazing he had so much patience and really helped me through all my lessons then he recommend me a nervous course which really helped me as I really struggled with my nerve on my test but I finally done it and passed my test and I wouldn't have been able to do it if it wasn't for lewis so thank u sooooo much :)
Leo J.
1 week ago
Passed my test because of Lewis. Amazing.
Webdeco.
2 years ago
recommends
What a great company to not only learn to drive with, but to actually work with too. We would highly recommend Shift without a doubt.
Tim P.
2 weeks ago
I had driving lessons with Lisa and passed my driving exam with only one minor. She is very patient and knowledgeable about driving safety and the surrounding area. I would highly recommend Lisa to anyone considering taking driving lessons. Thank you Lisa for all of your help!
Christopher W.
2 weeks ago
I used to find driving lessons stressful and boring, and my previous instructors (at other schools) were totally unreliable - messaging at short notice to cancel lessons. This made me hate driving all together...

Simon at SHIFT is the total opposite. He’s calm, consistent, and easy to get along with, which made a massive difference in my driving. I never thought I’d say this, but I actually enjoyed the process this time around.

Not once has Simon let me down - even working his days off to ensure I got across the line!

Passing first time with only 1 driver fault was the icing on the cake - even the examiner on test day mentioned the number of high quality students that Simon produces!

Cheers, Simon!
inferno1393
1 month ago
Majid was a patient and skilled instructor who helped me pass my test and develop my independent driving skills
Jerusha R.
1 month ago
I had a fantastic experience learning to drive with my instructor, Simon Houghton. He helped me overcome my fear of the road with his calm, patient approach and never made me feel rushed. He tracked my progress carefully, helped me understand complex situations, and corrected my mistakes in a way that actually built my confidence. Thanks to him, my driving skills improved massively. A great experience with Shift Driving School. Highly recommended.