A LABOURER was killed after losing control of his car in a sudden white-out while driving to work on a dual carriageway.

Leslie John Sharp was declared dead at the scene of the accident, after hitting a lamppost just off the northbound carriageway of the A19 in east Durham, at about 7.15am on Saturday, February 23.

An inquest was told that Mr Sharp, 35, of Farne Court, Ingleby Barwick, had been overtaking a tractor on a left hand bend approaching the Easington turn-off, when he encountered blizzard-like conditions.

The inquest heard that snow had blown across the A19 from nearby fields.

Workmate Terry Carney had been picked up by Mr Sharp from his Hartlepool home minutes earlier, and the pair were heading to a labouring job on a farm.

Mr Carney told yesterday's hearing, in Durham: "As we went round the bend, everything went white and we started to spin."

Mr Carney said following the impact Mr Sharp initially remained conscious, although he was trapped in his seat.

Firefighters tried to free Mr Sharp using cutting equipment, but five minutes later an officer told Mr Carney his colleague was dead.

Pathologist Dr Paul Barrett said death was due to multiple injuries, but particularly from internal bleeding.

A blood sample had revealed Mr Sharp was slightly over the drink-drive limit and traces of cocaine remained in his system, which may have affected his driving.

But North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle said there was no evidence of Mr Sharp's driving being impaired.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, he said the sudden white-out was more relevant.

"The severe and dramatic change would have caught out a well-qualified driver not impaired in any way," he said.

"Once it started spinning, it was almost anyone's guess where the car would end up.

"As it happened it collided with a street light on the edge of the A19, and it was pure bad luck that the collision took place.