A DRIVER has died two days after a minor road accident.

And police are appealing for witnesses to the collision in case it had any bearing on the woman’s death.

Durham Police have named the dead woman as Margaret Dawson, 61, of Stanley, County Durham.

Her body was found at her home by a relative on Saturday (November 8).

Two days earlier (Thursday, November 6) she was involved in an accident just after 6.30am at the Blind Lane, Chester-le-Street, interchange of the A1(M) and the A167.

The two vehicles involved, a red Vauxhall Corsa and silver Honda Civic, were both heading off the roundabout towards the road which leads to Shiney Row, near Sunderland.

As they approached the point where two lanes become one they collided, with the Civic sustaining considerable damage.

At the time it did not appear to be a serious incident and neither driver required medical attention.

A post mortem examination has been carried out and police are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision.

Insp Ed Turner, of the force’s road policing unit, said: “It is too early to say if the collision was a factor in Mrs Dawson’s death, however it is important we speak to anyone who may have seen it.”

Witnesses should call the Durham force on 101 and ask for the road policing unit.