Two elderly women have died after a stolen BMW crashed into a Sunderland care home during a police pursuit, leaving families devastated and prompting an investigation by the police watchdog.
A woman in her 90s and another in her 80s died on Thursday, a day after the blue BMW ploughed into Highcliffe Care Home on Whitchurch Road in Witherwack at approximately 9.40pm on Wednesday evening. Eight other residents were taken to hospital with injuries following the collision, which caused significant structural damage to the building.
The dramatic incident unfolded after police received a report of a car being stolen from the Fenham area of Newcastle earlier that evening. Northumbria Police confirmed officers received the initial call at about 9.20pm reporting the theft on Angerton Gardens. At around 9.35pm, the vehicle in question was sighted travelling on the A1231 eastbound in Sunderland, prompting officers to begin an authorised pursuit.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hall, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an extremely sad development and all of our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of everyone affected.” He added: “We will continue to support them in any way that we can at this time.
The force confirmed that two men aged 21 have been arrested in connection with the incident. Police said the men were previously arrested in connection with the crash but have now been further arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Both suspects remain in police custody whilst investigations continue. They were initially arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, with one also arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.
Following the police pursuit, a mandatory referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is standard procedure when deaths or serious injuries occur following police contact. The investigation will now consider whether the collision contributed to the deaths of the two women.
The North East Ambulance Service mounted a major response to the incident. A spokesperson said: “We dispatched three emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer, a clinical team leader, three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (Hart), our tactical advisor, our tactical commander, and two crews from our patient transport service (PTS) to the scene.”
We assisted with the evacuation of residents at the property and eight patients were conveyed to hospital.” Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service also sent crews to assist at the scene, where dramatic images showed a gaping hole left in one of the care home’s walls.
The collision forced the complete evacuation of Highcliffe Care Home, which offers excellent dementia care and has been rated as gold standard by the Sunderland City Council. The facility, situated in a quiet residential area north of Sunderland city centre, provides care to around 60 residents in single rooms with en-suite facilities.
Sunderland City Council responded swiftly to ensure resident safety. A council spokesman said: “Clearly, this was a stressful and worrying event for everyone at the home and the wellbeing of residents is always our top priority.” The spokesman added: “Officers from the City Council’s Building Control section have been assessing damage and making the area safe.
Avery Healthcare, which operates the home, released a statement praising the response of their staff. The company said: “The safety and well-being of our residents and staff is our absolute priority and we continue to work closely with the relevant authorities.” They confirmed: “Residents have been moved to alternative accommodation where their care continues without interruption.”
The healthcare provider expressed particular gratitude to their teams, stating: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the carers and colleagues across our neighbouring homes who have stepped in to support at this time. Their professionalism, dedication, and compassion in ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of care has been truly commendable.”
Chief Superintendent Hall urged the public to avoid speculation about the incident. He said: “Our investigations remain at an early stage, and we would ask people to avoid speculation both online and in the community.” Officers remain in the area to carry out inquiries and offer reassurance to local residents.
The road closure on Whitchurch Road, implemented immediately after the crash, has since been lifted as structural engineers completed their assessment of the damaged building. Specialists in fluorescent jackets were at the scene assessing the damaged wall, which has a gaping hole.
Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, Sunderland is a family orientated, well-respected local residential home that has served the community for many years. The facility specialises in residential, dementia and respite care for elderly residents across Tyne and Wear.
Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident. Members of the public can send the force a direct message on social media or use live chat and report forms on their website. Those unable to make contact in these ways can call 101, quoting reference: NP-20250709-1225.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community, with questions being raised about the circumstances leading to the fatal collision. The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation will examine whether proper procedures were followed during the pursuit and whether the chase contributed to the fatal outcome.
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