A MOTORIST has been taken to hospital after a car collided with a truck.

Emergency services were called to a crash on the A690 on the outskirts of Durham earlier today.

It is understood the incident happened at around noon on Wednesday on the westbound carriageway between Pittington Road and the roundabout for the A1(M) at junction 62.

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We dispatched a specialist paramedic and transported one patient to the University Hospital of North Durham for further treatment.” The AA is reporting that traffic in the area was heavy as a result.

A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said: “Police were called to reports of a two-vehicle collision on the A690 near Pittington, shortly after 12.30pm.

“The collision is believed to involve a truck and a car.”

The road was reopened around an hour later.

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Reports of a road traffic collison between a private motor vehicle and a heavy goods vehicle came into our control room at 12:38pm.

“Two appliances from Durham and Newton Aycliffe along with our special rescue unit from Bishop Auckland and targeted response vehicle also from Durham attended the incident.

“On arrival one occupant had managed to self-extricate.

“Our crews made the vehicles safe and left the scene at 1.30pm.”

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