A MOTORCYCLIST and passenger have been rushed to hospital after a serious collision with a car on a major County Durham A-road.

The emergency services were called to reports of an accident on the A68 near Witton-le-wear just after 7am – following reports of a two-vehicle collision.

Police officers closed the road shortly after the crash to allow paramedics and the air ambulance on the scene to attend to the casualties.

Read more: LIVE: Two taken to hospital after A68 crash at Witton-le-Wear

The collision involved a car and a motorcycle, with the rider of the vehicle, a man in his 50s, and his passenger, a woman also in her 50s, sustaining serious injuries.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “The collision involved a car and a motorbike with the motorbike rider, a man in his 50s, and his passenger, a woman also in her 50s, suffering serious injuries.

“The road was closed to allow paramedics access and both the man and woman have been taken to hospital.

“The road has now reopened.”

The Northern Echo: The A68 near Witton-le-Wear. Picture: GOOGLE.The A68 near Witton-le-Wear. Picture: GOOGLE.

After arriving on scene, the emergency services made the area safe, before paramedics performed urgent care on the two injured motorcyclists, including one crew from the Great North East Air Ambulance.

The two patients were taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough for further treatment, where they remain.

It’s not yet known the extent of the injuries but the ambulance crews have categorised it as ‘serious’.

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A spokesperson for the Great North East Air Ambulance said: “Our critical care team were activated at 8.16am to reports of a road traffic collision on the A68 at Witton-le-Wear.

“They arrived on scene at 8.28am and assessed and treated a patient before they were taken to hospital by a North East Ambulance Service, accompanied by our team.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: "We dispatched two ambulance crews and an officer, and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance Service. Two patients were taken by road to James Cook Hospital for further treatment."

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