Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Anglican priests killed in car crash

Ian Marland
Friday 28 May 1999 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THREE ANGLICAN priests were killed instantly when their car was crushed in a pile-up at a notorious accident blackspot. A lorry driver was arrested and is helping police with their inquiries into the incident.

The clergy who died, two men and a woman, served adjacent parishes in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. Their Rover 414 car was crushed between two heavy goods lorries, a van and another car on the A1 Felton bypass in Northumberland, about 25 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The three priests were returning from a walking trip in Northumberland when the accident happened on Thursday afternoon at a set of traffic lights where work is being carried out to try to make the road safer.

Yesterday, as news emerged of the triple fatality, another multiple pile- up at the same spot left three people in hospital with serious injuries.

The three priests were the Rev William Taylor, 39, of Heworth Vicarage, the Rev Michael Hough, 50, of Shotley Gardens, Low Fell, and the Rev Catherine Hooper, 40, of Windy Nook, all in Gateshead. Mr Taylor's Labrador escaped and is being cared for by vets.

Mr Hooper, originally from Dorset, was in the first group of women to be ordained as priests in the Church of England in 1994.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in