Three people were taken to hospital after a car failed to stop for police and crashed in County Durham. The incident happened in Lord Byron’s Walk, Seaham, when a VW Polo collided with a van and then hit a tree.
Pursuit and collision
Officers began a pursuit of the VW Polo shortly after 6pm yesterday following reports about the manner in which it was being driven. The car then collided with a van travelling in the opposite direction before hitting a tree, Durham Constabulary confirmed.
Paramedics, fire crews and the air ambulance attended the scene alongside police. Three people were taken to hospital.
Injuries and response
The driver, a man in his 20s, suffered leg injuries. His passenger, a woman in her 20s, suffered head injuries. The van driver, a man in his 50s, suffered back injuries. The car driver and passenger remain in hospital today, while the van driver is recovering at home.
The road was closed for around nine hours and reopened at 3am.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We received a call to a three vehicle road traffic incident on Lord Byron's Walk in Seaham at 18.35 this evening (12 August). We sent three emergency ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, air ambulance and a specialist paramedic. Three patients were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital, of which two had serious injuries."
A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) spokesperson said: "We were called at 6.37pm yesterday (August 12) to a three-vehicle road traffic collision on Lord Byron’s Walk in Seaham. Two fire engines attended from High Handenhold Fire Station and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. Crews left the scene at 7.54pm."
Appeal for information
Durham Constabulary said investigation is ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone who might have seen the VW Polo leading up to the collision or have dashcam footage to get in touch. Anyone with information should call 101 quoting incident reference number 401 of August 12.
