POLICE are investigating a road smash that left one man dead.
The eastbound carriageway of the A177, between Sedgefield and Thorpe Larches, near Stockton, has been closed for several hours this morning after a driver lost control of his vehicle.
Durham Police said the silver Ford Mondeo car, which is believed to have had a lone male occupant, is thought to have left the road at about 6am.
A police spokesman said: "It seems the car left the road and collided with a tree and specialists from our headquarters-based accident investigation unit are conducting a full inquiry to establish the cause.
"At this stage, it's believed only one vehicle was involved. The lone occupant, a man, has yet to be indentified, but he is believed to be in his mid 20s and from the Stockton area."
Diversions have been put in place along the A177 until the road can be re-opened again.
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