TWO women died yesterday when a van hit a walker and careered into the path of an oncoming car.

Police said the walker, who died, was walking on the verge. The second victim was a front seat passenger in the car.

The double tragedy happened at about 3pm on the A67 road, between Piercebridge and Gainford, near Darlington.

The van, which was travelling towards Gainford, hit the woman then crossed the carriageway, hitting a car which was travelling in the opposite direction.

The female driver of the car and the male van driver were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

The van driver was freed by firefighters.

The accident happened on a wide stretch of road some distance from the nearest house.

Last night, accident investigators were combing the scene for clues.

Police said the road would be closed for the rest of the night.

Officers were trying to establish how the van came to hit the pedestrian.

A Durham Police spokes-man said: "It appears that a woman walking on a grass verge by the side of the A67 was knocked down and killed by a van.

"The van then crossed the carriageway on to the other side of the road where it collided with a car coming in the other direction.

"The front seat passenger in the car was killed as a result while the female driver was seriously injured. The male van driver was also seriously injured."

The spokesman added that details of the accident were "sketchy."

The identities of the dead women have not yet been released by police.

* A man was cut from the wreckage of his car and taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with serious injuries last night. Police and firefighters were called to Burtree Lane, Darlington, after a collision between a van and a car.