A 4X4 driven over a car in a failed overtake attempt has been described as a “very lucky” escape for three drivers involved in a serious crash.

Emergency services were scrambled to Darlington Back Lane, off the A66, near Sadberge, on Tuesday morning and were met with the aftermath of the three-car collision.

Cleveland and Durham Road Policing Unit (RPU) officers were shocked no one was killed in the incident after a Toyota Land Cruiser drove over a Ford Mondeo, before coming to rest on its side.

The narrow county road was closed while police and ambulance crews attended the scene opposite an entrance to farm houses on the stretch of road that carries the national speed limit.

 In a post to social media, a Cleveland and Durham RPU officer said: “A very, very, very lucky start to the day this morning for two motorists – how this wasn’t a fatal injury is a mystery.”

The officer added that the driver behind the wheel of the Toyota Land Cruiser had allegedly attempted to overtake a slowing Ford Transit van before hitting the Mondeo estate and driving over its passenger side.

The Land Cruiser flipped over before landing on its passenger side.

The Cleveland and Durham RPU officer added: “When driving along, ask yourself, ‘can you stop in the distance you can see to be clear’ – if the answer is no then slow down and take more caution.”

  • Anyone who witnessed the incident or the vehicles involved being driven in the area on Tuesday morning can contact Cleveland and Durham RPU via non-emergency number 101.