Tragedy as woman dies following collision between van and HGV on A66 near Barnard Castle

Emergency services were called to the A66 near Bowes shortly after 8am

17:17, 26 Aug 2025

A woman has died following a collision between a van and a HGV this morning. Emergency services were called to the A66 near Bowes[1] shortly after 8am.

Police, paramedics, fire crews, and the Great North Air Ambulance Service[2] (GNAAS) were called to the scene. However, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the driver of the Citroen Berlingo van - a woman in her 30s - was sadly confirmed to have died, Durham Constabulary[3] confirmed.

A spokesperson for the Force added: "Her family have been notified and are being supported by specialist officers.

The driver of the HGV was unhurt but shaken.

"The road remains closed westbound while collision investigators work at the scene, but the road has since reopened eastbound. Motorists are advised to find an alternative route."

A North East Ambulance Service[4] spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic incident this morning (26 August) at 8:02am on the A66 near Barnard Castle. We dispatched two ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and were supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service."

A spokesperson for GNAAS said: "Our critical care team was activated at 8.24am to reports of a road traffic collision near Bowes.

We had a paramedic and two doctors on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 8.35am."

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service[5] (CDDFRS) also confirmed their attandance at the scene. A spokesperson said: "We were called at 8.15am to a two-vehicle collision on the A66 at Cross Lanes, Barnard Castle. One fire engine from Barnard Castle attended and firefighters made the vehicles stable before leaving the scene at 9.15am."

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References

1. ^ A66 near Bowes (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Great North Air Ambulance Service (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
3. ^ Durham Constabulary (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
4. ^ North East Ambulance Service (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
5. ^ County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
6. ^ sign up to receive it here (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
7. ^ County Durham WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
8. ^ County Durham news (chat.whatsapp.com)
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