THREE drivers and one passenger were taken to hospital after a crash involving a trio of cars.

The A167 Croft Road between Darlington and Hurworth Place was closed throughout rush-hour on Thursday evening (January 28) after the accident which happened shortly after 4pm.

A 70-year-old male driver was travelling with a 70-year-old female passenger, both from Bishop Auckland, when their Citroen C4 Picasso crossed into the opposite lane.

An oncoming Mini, driven by a 19-year-old woman, from Middlesbrough, collided with the Citroen that was driving towards Darlington.

A VW Polo being driven by a 35-year-old Northallerton woman followed the Mini and crashed head-on into the Citroen.

Durham Police closed Croft Road after firefighters were called in to free the trapped drivers.

The elderly pair in the Citroen were both taken to James Cook Hospital after the driver suffered a suspected fractured shoulder while his passenger had suspected leg fractures.

The 19-year-old Mini driver was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after escaping with only minor injuries while the VW driver was rushed to James Cook Hospital with a suspected fractured pelvis.

The main route into Croft and Hurworth was closed while the road was cleared which caused major disruption to commuters during rush-hour.

Buses scheduled to travel along Croft Road were diverted and many drivers were asked by police to use alternative routes.

A police spokeswoman said: “A collision occurred between the Citroen and a Mini travelling in the opposite direction. A VW Polo travelling south east behind the Mini then collided head on with the Citroen.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the vehicles shortly before it occurred is asked to contact Durham Constabulary’s road policing unit on 101.”