A SUSPECTED burglar who was killed as he drove into oncoming traffic in a bid to escape police was named by police yesterday.

David Prenelle, 31, of Chilton Moor, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, was killed instantly after his van slammed into cars.

Four other people were taken to hospital in the smash which blocked the A1 dual carriageway in North Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon.

William Purvis, 60, and his son Simon, 29, both of Peterlee, County Durham, suffered serious injuries and were yesterday detained in Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Police said a black Ford Transit van suspected of being involved in a burglary at a pub in Catterick Village turned on to the A1 at Gatherley, directly in front of a marked North Yorkshire police car.

Officers stopped the vehicle and one of them got out to speak to the driver.

But he spun the van around and drove south into the traffic on the northbound carriageway.

It immediately collided with the Fiat Uno driven by the father and son and other cars.

Mr Prenelle was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of a red Ford Escort involved in the crash, Kevin Ogg, of Catterick Garrison, suffered minor injuries, as did his passenger,

The two police officers were uninjured.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "The van was suspected of being involved in a burglary at a pub in Catterick Village, which happened shortly before the crash.

"The driver spun around and drove the wrong way down the northbound carriageway, colliding with other cars.

"The matter has now been referred to the independent Police Complaints Authority.