Young driver in critical condition with serious injuries after collision with lamppost in Greatham

The single-vehicle collision happened on the A689 Stockton Road, near Sappers Corner, Greatham, just after 9pm yesterday.

Firefighters from Stranton Fire Station worked alongside paramedics to cut a 21-year-old man, who is from the Hartlepool area, from the wreckage of a Ford Ka.

The man was left suffering from a broken pelvis and broken leg and is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

He drifted in and out of conciousness while the rescue effort was carried out.

The rescue operation took until 11.40pm, when the man was put onto a spinal board and taken to James Cook University Hospital by road ambulance.

The east-bound section of the road was closed off by police while the rescue was carried out and scene cleared.

Cleveland Police's helicopter was also called in during the effort.

Watch manager Andy Hardy was among the nine fighters who helped rescue the man.

He said: "It was a long, drawn out process because the casualty was very seriously injured.

"All the emergency services worked together professionally to make sure we got him out in the best condition we could."

Any witnesses to the incident are asked to contact Pc Paul Egglestone from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number

101, quoting event number 023064.