Driver killed in 31 car A19 pile-up horror

Jun 28 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

THIS is the aftermath of the horrifying 31-vehicle pile up which cost one life and caused carnage.

Police have blamed bad driving for causing the series of smashes on the A19 in County Durham which left one dead and 10 others seriously hurt.

The person who died, who has not been named, was driving a Renault which was crushed between two petrol tankers as the three vehicles travelled in a line behind one another in thick fog.

It is believed when the first tanker braked the car was crushed between it and the second tanker following behind as they concertinaed into one another.

Fire crews described a scene of “absolute devastation” when they arrived at the crash site, which stretched over a mile of the road between Peterlee and Wingate.

As police were responding to the first crash, further collisions took place on the northbound carriageway opposite, which was followed by a third crash on the Wellfield Road slip road involving three vehicles, one of which was a Vauxhall Astra police car – its warning lights flashing – involved in directing traffic.

In all, 31 vehicles were involved – two tankers, two 38-tonne HGVs, a minibus with no passengers and 26 private cars and vans – and all passengers and drivers were checked over by paramedic teams from the North East Ambulance Service.

The ambulance service said a man, 47, suffered stomach and shoulder injuries, while a 50-year-old had head injuries.