Probe into death of mother on crossing

POLICE HAVE named a mother who died after being hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing.

Shantelle Kirkup, 29, was crossing the road with her fiveyear-old son, who also sustained “significant injuries” in the incident in St Cuthbert’s Way in Darlington on Sunday afternoon.

Durham Police said she was hit by a blue Ford Focus and the driver, a 36-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

He was released pending further investigations.

The married mother of two, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital by air ambulance but died from her injuries a few hours later.

Her son remains in a stable condition at the same hospital.

Sergeant Phil Grieve, from Durham and Cleveland Specialist Operations Unit, said: “This was a distressing incident for all involved and our thoughts remain with Shantelle’s family, who are being supported by specially trained officers during this extremely difficult time.

“There were a number of people in the area at the time of the collision who assisted the emergency services – we would like to thank them for their help at the scene.

“Our officers are working hard to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.”