A DRIVING instructor remains in a critical condition in hospital after being injured in a crash during a lesson.
The 49-year-old suffered chest injuries when the car, which was being driven by a teenage learner driver, was involved in a collision at a junction.
The accident happened on the B6301 in Hedleyhill Lane, between Lanchester and Cornsay Colliery, in County Durham, at about 3.30pm on Wednesday.
The black Ford Fiesta Zetec was turning right in Front Street when it was involved in a collision with a white Mazda CX-7, heading in the opposite direction.
The 18-year-old learner driver, from Ebchester, suffered abdominal injuries and was detained overnight in hospital in Durham.
However, the driving instructor, from the Castleside area, suffered chest injuries.
An air ambulance doctor performed chest surgery at the scene and the instructor was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle, where last night he was described as being in a critical, but stable condition.
The driver of the Mazda, a 33-year-old woman from Bishop Auckland, suffered whiplash.
The road was closed for more than three hours while the wreckage was removed and police carried out initial investigations.
Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash, or who saw either vehicle shortly before, to call 101.
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