THIS dramatic footage shows the wreckage of a car and caravan following a crash on the A66 – which one witness said looked like the vehicles had “exploded”.
The crash happened on the eastbound carriageway of the A66 as the driver attempted to use a slip-road to the A67, near Bowes, County Durham.
The car careered off the road and both it and the caravan rolled onto their sides, with the body of the caravan almost entirely ripped from the trailer.
Emergency services were called and a fire appliance from Barnard Castle, along with police and an ambulance, attended the scene.
It is understood the driver escaped uninjured and was able to crawl to the safety through one of the car windows.
At the time of the crash, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, conditions were wintery with snow and ice on high ground.
A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “Earlier this week crews from Barnard Castle along with our colleagues from the police and ambulance service attended this road traffic collision.
“Thankfully all persons were accounted for with no injuries.
“Please be extra vigilant when driving in winter conditions folks and allow extra time for your journeys.”
Phil Hughes, who lives alongside the A66 near Bowes, arrived at the scene shortly after the crash.
He said: “The A66 eastbound slip onto the A67 is a notorious spot for accidents and near-accidents.
“Although it’s well signed in advance of the need to change lanes to continue east on the A66 many drivers seem to be unable to comprehend the necessity to move to the right-hand lane only realising at the last minute and then making a violent change of direction that has led several vehicles to overturn at that location.
“The exploded caravan is just the latest.
“I spoke to the driver who said the accident occurred as he tried to make a last-minute lane change and the road was slushy.”
National Highways plans to improve the A66 Trans-Pennine route between the M6 at Penrith and the A1 at Scotch Corner - upgrading single carriageway sections of road to dual carriageway standard and making improvements to the junctions along the route.
Mr Hughes believes clearer road markings and signs would improve safety and hopes the dualling scheme will result in less crashes.
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