THE A19 was closed for several hours this morning after a collision between a heavy goods vehicle and a Mercedes Sprinters van in the early hours.

Cleveland Police has thanked motorists for their patience during the closure of the A19 northbound near the Wynyard Business Park.

A white Volvo heavy goods vehicle and a white Mercedes Sprinter van collided just after 3.10am near the A689 turnoff, almost parallel to the Clipper Tea Factory on Wynyard Business Park. Both drivers were taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of North Tees to be seen for what are currently believed to be minor injuries.

The A19 north was fully closed for a stretch just before the A689, with traffic being diverted and the road was reopened at 9.30am. The carriageway had to be washed down as mud from the embankment had gone onto the road, and diesel from the articulated lorry had spilled onto the grass embankment.

Sgt Harry Simpson thanked motorists for their patience and co-operation whilst recovery and collision investigation work was carried out.

However, he said officers had seen many drivers waiting in traffic queues using a mobile phone. He said: “I appreciate drivers were, in many cases, waiting in queues or hardly moving for some time but I’d like to remind them that using your mobile phone at the wheel is still illegal.

“This comes as a timely reminder that the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit is currently running an operation targeting motorists using their mobile phones while behind the wheel.

“Remember if you are caught using your mobile you will get a £100 fine and have 3 points put on your licence. If it goes to court you could even be banned from driving and fined £1000.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision and who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event 014100.