Weekend crashes kill two

The Lexus broke up in the accident

Two people have been killed and several injured after two separate road crashes in County Durham.

One of the men died when a black Lexus and green Audi collided on the southbound carriageway of the A177, just south of Sedgefield.

Another man is critically ill in the intensive Care Unit at North Tees with serious multiple injuries.

In the second accident, a motorcyclist died near Barnard Castle.

Multiple injuries

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them over the accident in Sedgefield.

It happened about one mile from the A689 roundabout at 1420 BST on Saturday.

It is thought the Lexus lost control and hit a tree in the central reservation of the dual carriageway - the passengers were thrown out of the car.

Durham Police said the vehicle broke apart on impact.

The 34-year-old driver of the Lexus, from Woolviston, was taken to North Tees hospital with multiple injuries.

Operating theatre

A 30-year-old from Ingleby Barwick is in the intensive care unit at North Tees with serious multiple injuries and a 29-year-old, also from Ingleby Barwick, is being treated for multiple injuries.

Leslie Clark, 54, of Trimdon Avenue, Acklam, a passenger in the Lexus, was taken to North Tees hospital but died in the operating theatre.

The 27-year-old driver of the Audi was uninjured.

Meanwhile a motorcyclist has been killed in the village of Woodland in Barnard Castle.

The accident happened at 1730 BST on Saturday on the B6282.

David Kirshaw, 51, from Bishop Auckland died after his Kawasaki Motorcycle collided with a Citroen people carrier.

Road closure

Mr Kirshaw was certified dead at the scene by a local doctor.

The 52-year-old driver, from Marton, in Middlesbrough sustained an arm injury.

Three passengers in the Citroen - including two teenage boys - all suffered minor injuries.

The road was closed between 1800 BST and 2100 BST.

The police are appealing for witnesses to contact them, especially the driver of a maroon Range Rover which was overtaken by the motorbike immediately before the accident.