A personal trainer was taking a woman out on a first date when he caused a six-car pile-up on the A1 when trying to escape police, a court has heard.
Mazyar Azarbonyad, 20, of the town of Stanley, County Durham, was driving on the route near the Gateshead and Newcastle border at around 2.30am on April 9 when the smash happened.
He was taking a woman home from a first date when he was pursued by police, before the crash involving five police vehicles and a car – and which saw seven officers injured.
Shocking images show a battered car on its side next to the central reservation, while debris from the destroyed police cars was strewn all over the width of the carriageway.
Azarbonyad admitted dangerous driving and failing to stop while behind the wheel of his powerful BMW that night when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court today.
The Iran-born defendant, who came to the UK in around 2020, also admitted a series of other driving offences, including driving without insurance and a licence several times after the horrific collision.
Northumbria Police said a woman in her 20s was released with no further action to be taken in relation to her arrest on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
She was, however, released on police bail for suspected drug possession offences, pending further inquiries.
Mazyar Azarbonyad (pictured, leaving court), 20, of the town of Stanley, County Durham, was driving on the route near the Gateshead and Newcastle border at around 2.30am on April 9 when the smash happened
He was taking a woman home from a first date when he was pursued by police. Pictured: A severely damaged police car at the scene of the crash
The crash (pictured, the aftermath) involved five police vehicles and a car – and saw seven officers injured
Having been granted bail pending a court appearance, Azarbonyad admitted continuing to drive on four further occasions – despite bail conditions telling him not to drive, the court heard today.
In all these instances, he drove a Hyundai i10 to work at a gym in Newcastle city centre.
Officers were chasing the dark grey BMW near the Derwent Haugh Road junction of the A1 last Wednesday when the ‘absolute carnage’ occurred.
One particularly badly damaged police vehicle was almost completely crushed, with several of its doors having fallen off.
The smash triggered a large-scale emergency response, with the fire service having to remove the roof from at least one police vehicle to get inside.
Seven officers were taken to hospital with what Northumbria Police described as non-life threatening injuries. They have all since been discharged.
A spokesman said the two occupants of a BMW, which was being pursued at the time, were uninjured.
The horror pile-up closed the road for more than 12 hours, with glass and debris left scattered across all three lanes.
Shocking images show a battered car on its side next to the central reservation (pictured)
Debris from the destroyed police cars was strewn all over the width of the carriageway (pictured)
One particularly badly damaged police vehicle (pictured) was almost completely crushed, with several of its doors having fallen off
The Iran-born defendant, who came to the UK in around 2020, also admitted a series of other driving offences. Pictured: The aftermath of the crash
The collision happened just below the roundabout where gunman Raoul Moat shot PC David Rathband in 2010, leaving him blind.
The spokesman said officers attempted to stop a dark grey BMW M Sport in the Whickham area of Gateshead at about 2am, because of concerns about the way it was being driven.
The car drove off and was later seen in the Swalwell area.
He said specialist officers from the roads policing unit got behind the car at 2.25am and a pursuit was authorised.
This is a breaking story – further updates to follow.
