Accident specialists are investigating a car crash which left a teenager dead.
The body of Stuart Walker, 18, a care assistant, of Sudburn Avenue, in Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, was discovered in the early hours of Monday at the side of his car.
A passing motorist spotted the badly-damaged Nissan Cherry on the unlit C32 road between the village of Woodland and Toft Hill and alerted the emergency services at about 5am.
Ambulance crews discovered Stuart next to his car, which appeared to have spun out of control and hit a gate-post and stone wall at the entrance of Morley Farm.
The teenager was confirmed dead at Bishop Auckland Hospital.
The road where the accident occurred will remain closed as police have discovered significant and recent subsidence on the road about 300 yards from the scene of the crash. But they say they have no evidence at this stage to suggest it caused the accident.
If anyone has any information they should ring 0191 386-4929
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