POLICE have appealed for witnesses to a crash in which a woman was critically hurt after two diggers fell off the back of a wagon.

A low loader flatbed wagon carrying three diggers was travelling on the A194 eastbound, near to the York Avenue garage slip road, in South Tyneside, when the accident happened at 11am on Sunday, April 13.

Two of the diggers fell off the back of the wagon and one collided with a Vauxhall Antara that was travelling behind the wagon.

A 33-year-old woman driving the Vauxhall suffered life threatening injuries and was airlifted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary for treatment. She remains in a critical condition.

Two passengers in the vehicle, a woman, and a child were taken to South Tyneside hospital, but later discharged.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to a motorbike rider who was travelling on the road at the time of the crash and who they believe may have witnessed the collision.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact motor patrol officers on 101 ext 69191, quoting reference 483 13/04/14.