TWO men who were pulled clear from a crashed car seconds before it burst into flames are recovering in hospital.
Driver Michael Hopper, 35, from Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham, died in the head-on collision which happened as he travelled to work at nearby Eggleston with his two passengers on Monday morning.
One of them, a 21-year-old Barnard Castle man who was airlifted from the scene at Folly Top, suffered serious internal injuries but is now much improved. He has been transferred from Middlesbrough General Hospital to the town's James Cook University Hospital.
Doctors hope the front seat passenger, a 39-year-old South Shields man, will soon be well enough to be moved from Darlington Memorial to a hospital near his home. He suffered a broken chest bone. His condition is now "comfortable".
An inquest into Mr Hopper's death is due to open on Monday.
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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 hereComments are closed on this article