Overview
- A motorcycle carrying a rider and a pillion passenger fell on the A167 between Chilton and Ferryhill early on Wednesday, and the 38‑year‑old rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
- The pillion passenger, a woman in her twenties, was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham with injuries described as life‑changing.
- The North East Ambulance Service sent three crews, a specialist paramedic and a rapid‑response doctor and treated at least one patient for a suspected pelvic fracture before conveyance to hospital.
- Durham Police has opened a formal inquiry under its Serious Collision Investigation Unit and has asked anyone with dashcam or CCTV to email SCIU@durham.police.uk quoting incident number 12 of August 5.
- The A167 was closed both ways for several hours before reopening, and investigators will use witness evidence and forensic enquiries to establish what caused the crash and whether other factors were involved.