TWO lorry drivers helped police stop a drunken motorist who had been driving the wrong way on a busy dual carriageway.
The black Mazda car had earlier been involved in an accident with a lorry at the Rokeby junction of the A66 near Barnard Castle.
The lorry driver suffered shoulder and neck injuries in the impact, which knocked one wheel out of alignment.
The female driver – later found to be more than four times over the drink drive limit – then turned westbound on the eastbound carriageway of the trans-Pennine route at about 8.45am on Thursday.
The Mazda driver continued on the wrong side of the road before rejoining the westbound carriageway on a single carriageway section.
She failed to stop for a marked police car near Bowes.
Two lorry drivers pulled alongside and in front of the Mazda, blocking its path.
They gradually brought the car to a halt at Stainmore, near the Cumbrian border, at about 9am.
Inspector Kevin Tuck, from Teesdale police, said: “The drivers of two wagons supplemented the efforts of officers to bring this car to a stop.
“This was invaluable assistance and prevented what could have been a serious accident.
“The drivers did not stay to be thanked, so I would like to extend my appreciation to them.”
He praised their actions, but said, however, that they should have let police deal with the driver, saying: “Technically they did not do things right, but they did the right thing.
“The HGV drivers could see the real danger being posed to other motorists and seemed to act instinctively in support of the officer. No further damage was caused to any vehicle.
“Their actions enabled the arrest to be made, but when the officer went to thank them, they had carried on their journey.”
Witnesses to the incident are asked to call 0345-60-60-365.
A 46-year-old woman from North Yorkshire has been charged with drink driving and will appear at magistrates court in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on June 22.
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