Two drivers have been arrested after two separate crashes on the A19 saw the road closed for several hours.
Both crashes occurred near Castle Eden, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, on Sunday morning. In the first, shortly before 5am, an Audi is believed to have collided with a lamp post. While officers were at the scene, a second collision occurred, where a Toyota collided with a stationary police car and a different lamp post.
The driver of the Audi remains at The University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton with serious injuries and both drivers have been arrested in connection with driving offences. No one else is believed to have been injured.
The southbound carriageway has now reopened, Durham Constabulary confirmed. A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or the Audi prior to the collision.
“If you have any information or dashcam footage, contact the force’s Collision Investigation Unit by calling 101 and quoting incident reference number 44 of January 12.”
For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter