A MOTORIST was killed after car left a stretch of rural road and collided with several trees on Thursday morning.

Police received a report from the fire service which was called to attend the incident, on the A694 Spa Well Road, between Winlaton Mill and Swalwell, near Gateshead, shortly after 2am.

A force spokesman said “for reasons yet to established” the Renault Megane left the road, near, close to the junction with the B6317, Shibdon/Hexham road, coming to rest among a number of trees.

The driver, a man in his 30s, was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, where he later died.

As the vehicle was recovered and initial investigations were carried out at the scene, the road was closed, only reopening at about 6am.

* Meanwhile, the force has named a motorist killed in a two-car collision on the A69, in Northumberland, earlier this week.

The 29-year-old victim, John James Dockray, from Hexham, was at the wheel of one of two cars involved in the accident, around 150 metres from the junction with Red Path, near Haltwhistle, at about 1.40pm, on Tuesday (October 28).

The driver of the other vehicle, a man in his 60s, suffered minor injuries.

Northumbria Police is appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about either accident to contact them on 101, extension 69191, quoting reference 646 28/10/14 for the A69 incident, or 99 30/10/14 for the A694 fatality.