A WOMAN was last night in intensive care with a broken neck following a traffic accident.

The victim was a passenger in a Ford Ka that was involved in a collision with a Mercedes van in Tyne and Wear on Wednesday.

The collision happened just after 8pm on the A695 Crawcrook bypass at the junction with the B6317 road to Ryton.

Following the accident, the female passenger was taken to Newcastle General Hospital where she is in the intensive treatment unit.

The car driver was detained overnight at Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital with chest injuries, and another passenger was treated at Newcastle General for minor injuries.

The driver and two other people in the van were slightly hurt, but did not require hospital treatment.

Police closed the A695 for about three hours after the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 0191-454 7555, extension 66391.