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'Several injured' in tanker crash One dead in 'devastating' crashes
(about 1 hour later)
A number of people were seriously hurt after a series of collisions in fog on a stretch of road in County Durham, the fire service has said. One person has died and 10 others have been injured in a series of crashes in thick fog on a stretch of the A19 in County Durham.
Police said two fuel tankers, two lorries and a car were involved in a crash on the A19 between Peterlee and Wellfield at 2215 BST on Friday. The first crash, involving two petrol tankers, a lorry and a car, happened on the southbound carriageway between Peterlee and Wellfield on Friday night.
A further crash involving 18 vehicles happened on the opposite carriageway. While police and fire crews dealt with the incident, there were two further collisions involving 21 vehicles.
There was a third crash on a slip road involving three cars, including a police car which was directing traffic. It is thought the person killed was in a car trapped between the two tankers.
No details about their identity have been released.
Thick fog on the east coast is thought to have been a contributory factor Durham Police spokesman
The second crash, on the northbound carriageway, involved 18 vehicles, and the third - on the Wellfield Sliproad - involved three vehicles, including a police car.
A police spokesman said: "Thick fog on the east coast is thought to have been a contributory factor in what happened and police are urging drivers to avoid the area."A police spokesman said: "Thick fog on the east coast is thought to have been a contributory factor in what happened and police are urging drivers to avoid the area."
'Absolute devastation'
David Turnbull, the fire officer in charge, said emergency crews helped rescue five people who were trapped in vehicles.David Turnbull, the fire officer in charge, said emergency crews helped rescue five people who were trapped in vehicles.
He said crews stationed close to the scene heard a series of loud bangs.He said crews stationed close to the scene heard a series of loud bangs.
"When they responded they found absolute devastation on the fly-over adjacent to the fire station - 20 to 30 cars, a large number of HGVs, two petrol tankers and a large number of people trapped," he said."When they responded they found absolute devastation on the fly-over adjacent to the fire station - 20 to 30 cars, a large number of HGVs, two petrol tankers and a large number of people trapped," he said.
Mr Turnbull said one person, who was trapped in car close to the fuel tankers, was one of a number of people who were seriously injured. Children injured
No-one is believed to have been injured in the other two collisions. The North East Ambulance Service said a man, aged 47, suffered abdominal and shoulder injuries, while a 50-year-old man sustained head injuries.
Work to recover vehicles from the scene is ongoing and the A19 is expected to remain closed for several hours. They were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital, along with two other men in their late teens and two women with two children, who all suffered minor injuries.
Another man, aged 25, and a 27-year-old man, both with back and neck injuries, were taken to North Tees General Hospital.
Work to recover vehicles from the scene is ongoing and the A19 is expected to remain closed in both directions until at least lunchtime.
It is understood that fire crews are draining the petrol tankers of fuel before they can be moved.
Durham Police has set up a casualty bureau for concerned relatives.
The number for the bureau is 0191 386 0098.