A WOMAN has been killed and a man rushed to hospital after an early morning crash which left a major road into Darlington closed for several hours.
The A167 was swiftly closed early this morning just after 3am when a Mercedes C class left the road and collided with a tree.
Durham Constabulary said that there had been a “serious incident” on the road between Junction 59 on the A1(M) and the White Horse Hotel leading into Darlington.
Read more: Woman killed and man in hospital after Darlington A167 crash - road still closed
The road has been closed for more than nine hours and drivers were asked to avoid the area and find an alternative route.
As rush-hour began to close in, traffic began to build on the A68 through Cockerton as many people looked for alternative routes into the town centre.
It was later confirmed by North East Ambulance Service that one person had been taken to hospital after the incident.
A spokesperson for the service said: “We were called at 3:13 this morning to a one vehicle road traffic collision on the A167 in Darlington.
Read more: LIVE: One dead and one taken to hospital following "serious" crash in Darlington
"We dispatched two double crewed ambulances, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance.
"One patient was taken to James Cook Hospital."
It was later confirmed by police in a statement that one woman, the driver of the vehicle, had been killed following the incident.
According to police, it was believed that a Mercedes C class left the road and collided with a tree.
The woman, who was in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the passenger of the vehicle, a man in his 20s, was rushed to James Cook University Hospital with serious injuries.
Read more: How to get into Darlington following A167 closure and serious crash
Collision investigators are working at the scene of the incident and the road is expected to remain closed for some time, police said.
A spokesperson for Durham Police said: "A woman has died following a serious collision in Darlington.
"Police were called to a one vehicle collision shortly after 3am this morning (June 17) on the A167, near Coatham Mundeville.
"It is believed the vehicle, a Mercedes C Class left the road and collided with a tree.
"Sadly, the driver, a woman in her 20s died at the scene.
"The passenger, also a man in his 20s was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with serious injuries.
"Collision investigators are currently working at the scene and the road is expected to be closed for some time."
------
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel