A WOMAN motorcyclist riding pillion with her husband has died after a crash involving a van and a lorry.

Alison Reay, 39, of Lambton Terrace, Stanley, County Durham, was pronounced dead at the scene of the smash on the A688 road close to the entrance of the services off junction 61 of the A1(M) at Bowburn, just after 7.35pm last night .

Her 51-year-old husband has been arrested in connection with the crash.

Their Aprillia 1,000cc motorbike and a DAF milk tanker were travelling north towards the motorway and an Iveco van was heading in the opposite direction.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “It appears the rider of the bike, a 51-year-old man from Stanley attempted to overtake the tanker and for some reason lost control of the vehicle colliding with the central island.

"The motorcycle has then crossed into the opposite lane and crashed into the front of the van.”

The man suffered minor facial injuries and after receiving treatment at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough was then arrested by police on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

After being interviewed he was released on police bail until mid-December.

The tanker driver, a 59-year-old man from Bishop Auckland was uninjured. He was also arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, interviewed and bailed to mid-December.

The driver of the van, a 53-year-old man, from Gateshead, was shocked but unhurt.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “A post-mortem is expected to take place over the weekend and the coroner’s officer has been informed so that arrangements can be made for an inquest to be opened next week.

“There are a number of inquiries that accident investigators will be carrying out and witness statements are being taken from all involved.

“There was further work carried out at the scene today and measurements were taken to investigators can establish exactly what has happened.”

A stretch of the A688 between junction 61 and Tursdale was closed until shortly after midnight.

Anyone who saw the incident or who has any information which may help the police investigation is asked to get in touch with Durham Police's collision investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.