One arrest as woman dies after collision

A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a woman in her sixties died following a road collision in Horden.

The woman, who was driving one of the vehicles involved in the incident, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers.

Now detectives investigatingthefatal collision are appealing for any witnesses to come forward following the arrest of a 43-yearold man.

Emergencyserviceswere called to the scene on the A1086,ThorpeRoad,Horden, justafter4pmonSaturdayafternoon.

The fatal collision involved a blue Ford Focus and a red Mercedes C220, with the vehicles travelling in opposite directions.

Sadly the driver of the Focus – a woman in her sixties

– suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Mercedes,saidtobea43-year-old local man, has been arrested onsuspicionofcausingdeath bydangerousdrivingandwas taken into police custody. The road was closed in both directions for around eight hours while collision investigatorsworked at the scene.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “Officers are keen to trace the driver of a black coloured Vauxhall type van which, although not involved in the collision, is believed to be a key witness.

“Anyone who witnessed thecollision,orhasanyinformationthatcouldassistwith the investigation, is asked to callDurhamConstabularyon 101,quotingincidentnumber 241 of February 6.”