POLICE investigating a single vehicle crash in which an occupant of a car was killed and two others were seriously injured today appealed for information from witnesses.

Traffic officers are trying to discover what caused the Skoda Fabia car to leave the B6302 Newhouse Road, in Esh Winning, near Durham, before colliding with a wall.

The incident took place near to Priestburn, Esh Winning, not far from a 30-miles per hour speed restriction sign, shortly before 7.15am on Saturday.

It is understood that a silver car was travelling in a south-eastwards direction on Newhouse Road, entering Esh Winning from the direction of nearby Cornsay Colliery, when it apparently went out of control and left the carriageway to its nearside, before hitting the wall.

Police and the ambulance service were called to the scene and a doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance was also in attendance.

At least one of the three injured occupants was taken by ambulance to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Police later confirmed one male occupant subsequently died from his injuries, while another man and a female occupant were receiving treatment for what wsere described as serious injuries.

Durham Police issued an appeal to speak to anyone who may have seen the Fabia car at, or around the time, of the collision.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the collision investigation unit, on 0191-375 2159, or the force’s non-emergency number, 101, quoting reference DHM-01072017-0112.

Meanwhile, following a further weekend road accident, Northumbria Police is appealing for witnesses after a collision on the A194(M) in Washington, in which an eight-year-old boy suffered serious injuries.

It took place on a section of the A194(M) between the Washington Highway and the A1(M), at about 5.25pm on Saturday.

The force said that, “for reasons yet to be established”, a Red Suzuki Ignis left the road and collided with a tree.

Both the driver and passenger, the eight-year-old, were taken to hospital, but the boy’s injuries were said to be particularly serious and potentially life-threatening.

The vehicle was travelling westbound from the South Shields area prior to leaving the road and striking the tree.

Accident investigators are carrying out inquiries into the cause and are appealing for witnesses.

They are asked to contact the Northumbria force, via the 101 non-emergency number, quoting reference 864 010717.