A probe into the circumstances surrounding a crash that shut the A1 at Peterborough for hours and left a trucker seriously injured has been dropped.

The collision involved two lorries, and happened at 2.49am on Tuesday, July 28 on the northbound carriageway of the A1 near Stibbington.

The incident involved two Scania HGVs. The driver of one – A 43-year-old man from Saltburn, Cleveland, suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

The driver of the second – a 50-year-old man from Great Barr, Birmingham, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to hospital for treatment.

Firefighters working at the scene of the collision

placeholder image — Firefighters working at the scene of the collision

He was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while over the drug-drive limit and possession of cannabis.

Cambridgeshire Police said the force's Professional Standards Department referred the force to the IOPC ‘ in relation to an earlier incident involving one of the vehicles.’

IOPC release statement as investigation into police conduct before Peterborough ...

However, now the IOPC have confirmed the referral has been withdrawn, and they are no longer investigating any aspect of the incident.

Cambridgeshire Police had self referred the incident to the IOPC, as a Death or Serious Injury referral.

The IOPC said police had come into contact with the 50-year-old man from Birmingham in the lead up to the collision – but because that particular driver had not been seriously injured, the referral was withdrawn.

The IOPC said the police had no prior contact with the more seriously injured party.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the IOPCC’s decision on this.”

The collision resulted a large fire, which damaged the carriageway surface itself, leaving the northbound carriageway of the A1 – and one lane of the Southbound carriageway – closed for much of the day, while emergency services worked at the scene, and repairs to the road surface were made.

The police spokesperson said that the lorry driver who was seriously injured in the crash is now out of hospital.

The arrested lorry driver has been bailed until October 28.

Police are still appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, to contact police via the force website, quoting Operation Oystercatcher. Anyone without internet access should call 101.