Man in serious condition after A690 crash near West Rainton

Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to the A690 near West Rainton just after 2.30pm on Tuesday (April 21). The man struck a road sign after suffering a medical episode at the wheel, police said. He was assessed by paramedics and taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital for further treatment, where he remains in a serious condition.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said: "We were called to reports of a one-vehicle collision on the A690 near West Rainton just after 2.30pm on Tuesday. "It is understood a driver struck a road sign after suffering a medical episode and was treated by officers and paramedics at the scene before being transported to hospital where he remains in a serious condition. "The east and westbound carriageways were both closed between Junction 61 of the A1(M) and Houghton-le-Spring but reopened just before 7pm."

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) added: "We were called to an incident on the A690 at 2.27pm on Tuesday, April 21. "We dispatched two ambulance crews, one specialist paramedic and were supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service. One patient was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital via road for further treatment."

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) also confirmed they attended the incident. A spokesperson said: "Our critical care team was activated at 2.39pm to reports of a road traffic collision on the A690 near West Rainton. "We had a paramedic and doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 2.51pm.

"Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat a patient."