A TAXI driver is in a critical condition in hospital after an accident on a road where streetlights where not working and are due to be switched off to save money.

The proposal to switch off the lights on the stretch of the A167 in Newton Aycliffe has been criticised following the crash by the town's mayor.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision which occurred at around 8.10pm on Friday near the junction with Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe.

A black Mercedes E350 collided with a red Skoda Octavia taxi, resulting in the Mercedes leaving the road.

The driver of the taxi, a 36-year-old man from the Darlington area, was airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough suffering from serious injuries.

Police said on Monday morning that the man remained in hospital and his condition described as critical but stable.

He had two passengers, a 50-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, both of whom were also from Darlington. They were treated at the same hospital for minor injuries.

The driver of the Mercedes, a man aged 26 from Newton Aycliffe, was uninjured.

The incident led to the road being closed for several hours and attracted dozens of people out of their homes to see what had happened.

Durham County Council recently announced money-saving plans to remove lighting along the A167 from the A1 to Durham.

It has since emerged that the accident on Friday happened where three streetlights were not working.

Aycliffe mayor Wendy Hillary, who lives near the A167 and saw the aftermath of Friday's accident unfold, said it was proof of how dangerous the road could be without lighting.

She said: "For a few weeks now three street lights have been out. They have been reported but haven't been repaired. I don't know why, all I can assume is that it's involved in the plan for the removal of the lights along the A167, and this is the exact stretch.

"It seems to be as the lights are failing now, before they've even started the removal, they're not maintaining the lights, and I pray that it hasn't contributed to this accident.

"The lay-bys are unlit and lorries do stop there when the drivers need a break, but if they're going to be in darkness how are the other vehicles going to see them? I just think it's so, so dangerous.

"There has been a letter sent to the council, we're waiting for a response from them.”

Anybody who witnessed the collision or has information which may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on 101 ext: 742704. 

:: Meanwhile, three people were injured in a crash that closed the A167 at Coatham Mundeville, near Darlington, for several hours on Saturday.

Two people were taken to hospital and another injured in the crash, between a black BMW and a black Jaguar, near the Foresters Arms pub.

Elsewhere, a car ended up on its roof following a three-vehicle accident in New Marske, East Cleveland, on Saturday.

There were no serious injuries.