Motorist hurt in A66 collision with cow
1:39pm Tuesday 19th August 2008
A MAN is seriously ill in hospital after his car collided with a stray cow on the A66 in the early hours of this morning.
The collision happened at 1.50am on the westbound carriageway of the A66, half a mile east of Bowes village, near Barnard Castle, in County Durham.
The man's vehicle- a silver Mercedes E220- was extensively damaged as a result and the driver, who is 34-years-old and from Leeds, suffered a serious head injury, internal bleeding and a broken leg.
He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital and later transferred to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where his condition is classed as poorly but stable.
His front seat passenger, a 23-year-old woman also from Leeds, was unhurt.
The animal which belonged to a local farmer died at the scene.
At the time of the accident police were on the A66 following reports of between 20 to 30 animals having strayed onto the carriageway.
As they were dealing with this the Mercedes passed them and a short distance later collided with the cow on a single carriageway section of the road.
Accident investigators are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact them on 0191-375-2159.