A DRIVER and his passenger died of massive internal injuries after they were involved in a collision at one of Teesside's most notorious accident blackspots, an inquest heard yesterday.

The inquest, at Teesside Magistrates' Court, heard how a Peugeot 309 and a Fiat Punto collided in Durham Lane, which links Eaglescliffe with the A66, resulting in the death of Craig McLean, 22, and James Weastell, 30.

The 60mph limit single carriageway has been the scene of a number of near- misses and accidents in recent years.

Mr McLean was driving his Peugeot, with Mr Weastell as his passenger, to Stockton for a night out on June 15 last year, when he failed to negotiate a bend near the old brickworks.

The car moved diagonally across to the south carriage way, where it collided with the Fiat being driven by Alan Grieve, of Eaglescliffe, the inquest heard.

Mr Grieve told the court that he was driving at about 50mph when he became aware of a white car coming towards him.

He said: "I took my foot off the accelerator to the brake pedal, but do not believe I had time to press it. It happened so quickly."

Mr McLean, of Middleton St George, near Darlington, and Mr Weastell, of Eaglescliffe, both suffered internal haemorrhaging in the accident, which resulted in their deaths.

Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded verdicts of accidental death.