A MAN died when his car hit a bridge parapet and broke in two.

The dead man was named as 22-year-old Shaun James Brown, of Fence Houses, near Sunderland, who was serving in the RAF and based at Wittering, near Peterborough.

He was certified dead at the University Hospital of North Durham in Durham City.

His passenger, a 22-year-old woman from Shiney Row, near Sunderland, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries but released after treatment. Firefighters were called to free one of the victims from the wreckage.

The accident happened at about 12.30am yesterday on the A1052 near the roundabout at Lumley Park Burn Bridge, near Bournmoor.

A Durham Police spokes-man said the only vehicle involved was the green Toyota MR2 Mr Brown was driving.

The road was closed for about four hours. Anyone who saw the accident is asked to call the police accident investigation unit on 0191-375 2319.

* In an accident at Washington, a 13-year-old girl was knocked down and killed by a car on the A1231 Washington Highway, at about 8.15pm on Saturday night.