A DRIVER has died in hospital five days after being injured in a four-vehicle car crash.

The 45-year-old man, from Stanley, lost his fight for life in the early hours of this morning (THURSDAY) in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

He had been airlifted to the hospital after suffering multiple injuries in Saturday’s accident on the A693 at Beamish.

The victim was driving a Suzuki Swift when it was involved in the accident outside the Top Gun paintball centre shortly before noon.

A Nissan Navara and a Renault Megane, heading towards Chester-le-Street, slowed down to allow another vehicle to turn right into the paintball centre when a Mercedes Sprinter crashed into the back of the Navara, which in turn hit the Megane and then crossed the centre line on the road and collided head-on with the Suzuki.

None of the other drivers or passengers, including two young children in the Renault, needed hospital treatment.

Police say the coroner has been informed of the driver’s death and a post mortem examination will follow in due course.

Any witnesses to the accident who have not already come forward are asked to contact Durham Constabulary’s collision investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.