POLICE have identified a man who died when the vehicle he was being carried in crashed into a lorry on the A68 on the outskirts of Darlington last Friday.

The collision occurred shortly before 1pm on Friday, May 24, on the A68 at its junction with Houghton Bank, near Heighington.

Two vehicles were involved – a white Peugeot Partner van, driven by a 22-year-old man from Middleton-in-Teesdale and a Volvo articulated lorry.

Grandfather-of-two Peter Hammond, 49, from the nearby village of Bolam, was a front seat passenger in the van.

He suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Hammond, who had one adult son, worked as a business development mananger for a vehicle hire company.

The crash happened as the van travelled north along Brownside Lane towards the junction.

It collided with the lorry which had been heading along the A68.

The driver of the van sustained neck and back injuries, for which he was treated at Darlington Memorial Hospital before being released.

There was also a rear passenger in the van, a 46-year-old man from Middleton-in-Teesdale, who is the father of the driver.

He suffered multiple injuries and was taken by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

His condition this morning was classed as 'critical but stable'.

The lorry driver, a 50-year-old man from Darlington, was unhurt.

The van driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and the lorry driver for death by careless driving.

Both were interviewed and then released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Accident investigators are appealing for any witnesses who have not already come forward to do so.

Call the collisions unit directly, on 0191-375-2159, or the non-emergency number 101 and ask for Sergeant Jonathan Morgan.