Four people have been taken to hospital after a five-car crash closed a major commuter road this morning.
The A19 was shut between Peterlee and Easington from around 8.20am after the serious incident, which saw southbound traffic queue for miles during rush hour as emergency services responded.
A silver van on the grass verge can be seen with badly damaged rear doors, while a low-loader looks to be readying another van to be taken away.
