A MOTORIST has been killed after his car veered onto the wrong side of the region’s main motorway.

The victim, who has not yet been formally identified, is thought to be aged 29 and from the north Durham area, but lived in Nottingham.

He died after his yellow Toyota MR2 crossed the A1 shortly before 4pm on Sunday.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “He had been travelling south when for an unknown reason he appeared to lose control of the car as he travelled between Bowburn and Bradbury, junctions 60 and 61.

“The vehicle then went through the central rope barrier and onto the northbound carriageway where it collided with a blue coloured Citroen C2 which was heading north.

“As a result of the collision the Toyota driver suffered serious injuries and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

The Citroen driver, a 76-year-old man from Stanley, was taken to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough suffering from bruising and shock.

He was kept in hospital overnight for observations.

Debris from the Toyota also struck a BMW 320 car on the northbound carriageway, driven by a 35-year-old man from Wigan who was unhurt.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision to contact the investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.