A former professional footballer was left permanently disabled after a road accident in which a van driver was killed, an inquest heard yesterday.

Gary Gill, who once played for Middlesbrough and Darlington, and later briefly managed non-league team Gateshead, was injured when his Audi A3 and a Mercedes Sprinter van collided on the A67, between Darlington and Yarm.

Van driver Gary Hutchinson suffered multiple injuries in the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene.

At yesterday's inquest, at Teesside Coroner's Court, Mr Gill told how the crash happened at about 10pm on November 13, last year, as he returned home from a sales conference.

Mr Hutchinson, a father-of-one from Nottinghamshire, was driving in the opposite direction along the A67, on his way from Thirsk to Darlington acting as a courier.

PC Stephen Garner, from Cleveland Police crash investigation unit, told the court Mr Hutchinson appeared to have taken a bend too quickly and, as a result, the back of his van slid out to the side, hitting a Ford Fiesta coming in the opposite direction.

PC Garner said: "After hitting the Fiesta, the van spun and, as Mr Hutchinson attempted to correct the spin, he may have oversteered.

"The van then hit an Audi A3 and spun around again, lifting into the air before hitting the ground and bursting into flames.

"The impact with the Audi was so great that it pushed the car into a nearby field."

Witnesses to the crash told the court how they rushed to the scene after seeing the flames. They were unable to do anything to help the van driver but attempted to get Mr Gill out of his car.

They told how he cried out for help, saying his legs hurt.

A statement read out to the court on Mr Gill's behalf said: "As a result of the accident, my right shoulder was dislocated, I had stitches to my head and I will not get the use of my knee back."

Mr Gill was part of the Darlington team that won the Conference and Fourth Division league titles in successive seasons in 1989/90 and 1990/91.

Teesside coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of accidental death.