Driver taken to hospital after collision between a bus and a car on the A19 in Sunderland

A bus driver had to be rescued from his vehicle following the incident, which happened at around 5am on Wednesday, November 27.

The road was closed for between two and three hours near to the junction for the A690 for Durham and Doxford Park.

Traffic was diverted via the A183, then onto the A182 and A690 before rejoining the southbound A19.

The road re-opened at around 8.20am.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “Shortly after 5.10am we received a report of a two-vehicle crash on the A19 southbound at Houghton near the A690 turn-off.

“Emergency services attended and found a bus had been in collision with a car. The male driver of the bus was taken to hospital.

“The southbound carriageway was fully closed to allow a clear-up operation to take place, but has now re-opened.”

Witnesses said traffic was backed up to Testo’s roundabout. Delays were also reported on the A1231 as vehicles attempted to join the route.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service sent four appliances and a heavy rescue emergency tender to the scene.

Persons were believed to be trapped following the incident, which the service says involved a double-decker bus and a Mazda 3 car.

The bus dashboard was cut out to rescue the driver – but the passengers were injured, the service said.

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service added that two patients were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital’s A&E.

Further details of the injuries suffered were unavailable.