A 73-YEAR-OLD woman who was part of a Chinese touring party has suffered serious injuries after being hit by a van while walking to her coach.

A police spokesman said the victim from the Sichaun province of China was one of a party crossing the road on the A688, Tursdale Road, at the Bowburn services, near Durham City, when the accident happened at 9.30am yesterday (Monday, September 23).

The spokesman said: “The coach had stopped at the services and the victim left the services with other members of the group and crossed the A688.

“After a few minutes they went to return to the services where the coach was parked and the lady was hit by the van as she attempted to cross the road from the pedestrian refuge.”

“The victim was taken to the RVI in Newcastle where she has been detained with serious head and facial injuries including a fractured skull.”

The driver, a man from Bishop Auckland in his fifties was unhurt.

The coach was on its way to Edinburgh.

Anyone who saw the collision but has not yet contacted police is asked to contact the collision investigation unit non-emergency 101.