Man dies after van and tractor crash in Hamsterley

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to the crash on Crane Lane Row, between Hamsterley and Bishop Auckland, just before 6.15pm on Wednesday (September 23).

Despite the best efforts of medics, a 60-year-old passenger in the van was declared dead at the scene.

His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, Durham Police said.

Another second casualty was taken to the RVI in Newcastle for further treatment, the ambulance service confirmed.

The road was closed for several hours while crash investigators examined the scene.

It has since been reopened.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said: “Officers would like to speak to any witnesses, or those who may have dashcam footage of the vehicles leading up to the collision.

“If you can help, please contact Durham Constabulary’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit by email at SCIU@durham.police.uk quoting incident number 413 of September 23.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called to a road traffic incident on Crane Row Lane at 6.40pm. We dispatched two ambulance crews and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). One patient was taken to RVI hospital by road for further treatment.”

A spokesperson for Great North Air Ambulance said: “Our critical care team was activated at 6.51pm to an incident near Hamsterley.

“We had a paramedic and doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 7.02pm.”