Police to interview driver of fatal crash

8:10am Saturday 19th July 2008

POLICE were last night preparing to question the driver of a stolen pick-up which crashed across a motorway, killing a motorist.

The 23-year-old, from the Chester-le-Street area of County Durham, was rushed to University Hospital of North Durham following the crash yesterday morning.

He underwent emergency surgery and was expected to remain in hospital last night.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening and police say they intend to question him about the horror crash.

The black Mitsubishi L200 pick-up was reported stolen from the Chester-le-Street area, and was picked up by vehicle recognition cameras on the Aycliffe Industrial Estate, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, at about 5.20am.

The driver turned onto the A167 before joining the A1(M) northbound.

Police drivers took up the chase, while a police helicopter followed overhead.

Up to four marked patrol cars were involved, all using sirens and blue lights.

Officers attempted to bring the Mitsubishi to a halt close to the Bowburn interchange, but the driver swung the wheel away.

The vehicle smashed through the central reservation, flipped over and landed on the bonnet of an oncoming Peugeot 306.

Chief Superintendent Peter Davis, of Durham Police, said: “Traffic officers were granted authority to bring the vehicle to a controlled stop – which is an approved police tactic and used nationwide.

“The driver of the Mitsubishi managed to avoid being contained and evaded police.”

The dead man has not yet been named.

Chief Supt Davis said condolences went out to the victim’s family.

Officers involved were said to be badly shocked by the incident.

In the hours after the crash, police were seen examining the vehicles which lay close together beneath a motorway sign.

The badly crumpled Mitsubishi lay on its side with its bonnet open and large clumps of grass wedged into its bodywork.

A deep tyre track scarred the slip road next to it.

The Peugeot’s windscreen was shattered.

Four police cars were loaded onto tow trucks, one with damage to its driver’s door.

The A1(M) was closed in both directions between junction 60 at Bradbury and junction 62 at Carrville.

Traffic was diverted onto the A167, causing long tailbacks and congestion in and around Durham City. The motorway was re-opened at about 2.30pm.

A man who lives near the motorway, who asked not to be named, said he was woken by the crash at about 5.30am.

“I heard a loud bang and then the police helicopter overhead,” he said.

“At first I thought it was a lorry going past my house, that’s how loud it was.”

A Durham Police spokesman said officers had spoken to some witnesses, but were keen to hear from anyone who saw the incident.

Witnesses can call Durham Police on 0845-60-60-365.

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