TWO teenagers who were hurt in a car crash waited more than 12 hours before going to a hospital for treatment - even though one of them had fractures to her skull and neck.

The 16-year-old girl passenger, who is from Bishop Auckland, also suffered a broken leg and cuts and bruises.

Police said the girl had been in a blue Ford Escort car driven by a 19-year-old when it hit a tree at a bend on an unclassified back road between Bishop Auckland and nearby Newfield.

Police believe the driver contacted friends who picked up the pair and removed the car from the scene after the Friday night crash.

Doctors admitted the girl when she turned up with the driver at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, at noon on Saturday.

She was transferred to Newcastle General Hospital a few hours later, and her parents were last night at her bedside.

Police said yesterday that her injuries were serious, but not life-threatening and she had been made as comfortable as possible. They said they were concerned that the girl had not been treated immediately.

Until last night, the teenager had not been well enough to tell investigators exactly what had happened.

Last night, accident investigators were still trying to contact the driver, who had failed to attend a pre-arranged meeting and was not answering his phone.

They said he had telephoned to report the accident at 10.50am on Saturday, before going to the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

The driver, believed to be from Sunnybrow, near Bishop Auckland, had left before police arrived at the hospital.

Police believe the Escort failed to negotiate a bend, left the road and ploughed into a tree.

Anyone who saw the accident, which happened at 11.30pm, or who has any information can call investigators on 0191-375-2159 or the general police line 0845-60-60-365. Calls can be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.