ONE of the North-East's busiest roads was closed for six hours on Sunday after a series of crashes thought to have been caused by a motorist driving the wrong way down the A19.

Medics described the scene was "bedlam" after a critically injured 59-year-old woman required surgery and a blood transfusion on the roadside following a string of collisions.

Police said that they believe a car tried to turn north on the southbound carriageway at Sheraton, at the A179 Hartlepool turn-off at about 10.15am causing a head-on smash.

The Northern Echo:

As emergency services attempted to help the casualties there was a second serious collision involving three cars on the northbound road when the woman, whose condition is described as life-threatening, was hurt.

It has now emerged there were two arrests. The first was a 43-year-old man from Houghton-le-Spring on suspicion of dangerous driving. He has been bailed pending further enquiries. A 30-year-old man from Huddersfield was also arrested on suspicion on drug driving.

The road was closed in both directions for almost six hours while police inspected the scene.

The Northern Echo:

In total eight people were taken to hospital, two from the first incident and six from the second.

Jane Peacock, deputy director of observations at the Great North Air Ambulance, said the helicopter was called from Durham Tees Valley Airport at 10.41am and arrived five minutes later "to find bedlam".

She believed the 59-year-old woman, who was unconscious when paramedics arrived, had been travelling with her son and his wife. Her Ford Ka had been overturned. 

The Northern Echo:

The GNAA doctor performed emergency surgery on the woman's chest. Describing the woman's condition as "life threatening" she said: "We were at the scene for about 30 minutes. There was a major operation with other emergency services all doing a magnificent job."

Andie MacKay, group manager of Durham and Darlington Fire Brigade, said the second incident, involving a VW Polo, a Ford Ka and a Mini Cooper, appeared to involve the cars shunting into the back of each other.

He said: “Whilst we arrived to the first incident there was a further accident on the northbound carriageway. We treated it as a separate incident and asked for extra resources. There was a very seriously ill lady and a number of others of what could be described as walking wounded."

The Northern Echo:

Mr MacKay said eight fire engines from both Durham and Cleveland fire brigades and Durham's Special Rescue unit attended along with four ambulances. There were about 35 firefighters and 15 policemen at the scene.

Inspector Rachel Stockdale of Durham Police explained the first collision involved a Vauxhall Meriva and a Renault Megane Scenic. Despite it being a head-on crash, the two drivers involved were not thought to be very seriously injured.

Durham Constabulary would like to speak with anybody who may have seen the collision. Anybody with any information is requested to contact Collision Investigation Unit on 0191 3752159 or Durham Police on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference DHM-15032015-0135 .