Police are appealing for witnesses to the serious crash on the A19 near Easington Services shortly before 8am this morning (Tuesday, October 18).

It is believed a silver Ford Transit van was travelling north when it struck a white Ford Transit van travelling in the same direction.

The silver Transit then collided with the central reservation and gone over the safety barrier onto the southbound carriageway, causing three further crashes.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "Several people suffered minor injuries and one woman was taken to the Sunderland Royal Hospital, for treatment.

"The road was closed in both directions to allow emergency services to deal with the incident.

Read more: Four people in hospital after major crash on the A19 in County Durham

"It caused significant disruption to motorists and officers are extremely grateful for the patience displayed by those caught up in the traffic."

The Great North Air Ambulance was also sent to the scene but was not needed to take anyone to hospital.

A spokesman for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We received a call shortly before 8am this morning to reports of a five vehicle road traffic collision on the A19 southbound.

"We sent two Hazardous Area Response Teams, a clinical team leader and three emergency ambulance crews and transported four patients to Sunderland Royal Hospital for further treatment."

Police say several witnesses have already come forward, however, anyone else who has any information or dashcam footage is asked to email peter.tate@durham.police.uk, quoting incident reference 56 of October 18.

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