A MOTORCYCLIST has died following an horrific collision involving a car and a motorbike.
The collision between a silver Ford Focus and a Honda Fireblade motorbike happened in Tees Road, near the Mayfair Centre, at Seaton Carew, yesterday morning.
A man and a woman, who were among four people travelling in the car, were airlifted to ho
spital after being cut free from the wreckage.
The identity of the motorcyclist has not been released by the police, who have since launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward.
A Great North Air Ambulance paramedic joined other medics at the scene after flying in a police helicopter at around 8am yesterday, as reported in the Mail and the Mail's www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk website.
One of the passengers, a woman in her 30s, was airlifted to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital for treatment to serious head injuries after being cut free by firemen.
The police helicopter then went back to the scene to transport a 27-year-old man – who had also been cut free from the wreckage – to hospital with a broken leg and pelvis.
The A178 Tees Road was closed in both directions between the Brenda Road roundabout and Elizabeth Way while emergency services dealt with the collision.
One eyewitness, who didn't wish to be named, was among the first to arrive at the scene as he made his way to work.
The 57-year-old, who lives in the Middleton Road area of town, said: "It was devastating to see and the image of the biker lying in the road will always stay with me.
"I took a sheet out of my van, which I had parked in the middle of the road, to use as a cover, but the paramedics were soon on the scene so I couldn't do much else.
"What really annoyed me was that even though I had parked my van in the middle of the road to stop the traffic, people were still driving past me.
One narrowly missed the biker. It was shocking."
A police spokesman said: "Cleveland Police are asking for witnesses to the collision on Tees Road near the Mayfair Centre at Seaton Carew to come forward."
Two fire engines and an emergency tender vehicle containing specialist cutting equipment from Hartlepool's Stranton Fire Station attended the scene.
The roads reopened early yesterday afternoon and police say their inquiries are ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Cleveland Police on (01642) 302126.
