A WOMAN was last night lying in intensive care with a broken neck following a serious road smash.

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 night.

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

Following the accident the female passenger suffering a broken neck was taken to Newcastle General Hospital where she is currently 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 need hospital treatment. Police closed the A695 for around three hours after the smash.

Anyone who saw the incident should contact Northumbria police on 0191 4547555, extension 66391.