A man has died following a three-vehicle crash on the A1(M) near Darlington.
Police, firefighters, ambulances and an air ambulance were called to the southbound side of the major road following a crash just after 11.30am today (September 4).
The serious smash left drivers facing hours of delays, with the road being shut in both directions between Junction 57 and the Burtree Interchange at Junction 58.
Three vehicles were involved in the crash, including a Vauxhall Mokka, and the road remains closed while collision investigators work at the scene.
Durham Police has now confirmed that the driver of the Mokka, a man in his 60s, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of emergency services.
His family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Two others were taken to the Darlington Memorial Hospital for further treatment.
Witnesses reported seeing more than a dozen emergency service vehicles following the crash, with one man saying he saw 12 police cars, four ambulances, and three fire engines.
The road is expected to remain closed for a few more hours.
Officers are now keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have dashcam footage of the vehicle prior to the crash.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 11.41am on Friday (September 4) to reports of a road traffic incident on the A1(M) southbound near Merrybent in Darlington.
“We dispatched three ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a rapid response paramedic, a clinical team leader, and a crew from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the scene, and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by air.
“Two patients were taken by road to Darlington Memorial Hospital for further treatment.”
A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We are currently supporting emergency service partners at a road traffic collision on the A1M southbound between Junction 58 and Junction 57.
“We were called at 11.38am today (September 4) and have three fire engines at the scene from Darlington, Spennymoor and Newton Aycliffe Fire Stations, along with two officers.
“The road is likely to remain closed for around four to five hours.”
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A Great North Air Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "Our critical care team was activated at 11.59am to reports of a road traffic collision on the A1(M) near Darlington.
"We had two doctors and a paramedic on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 12.09pm."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police’s serious collisions
Investigation unit on 0191 375 2996 quoting incident number 154 of September 4.
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