last updated: Sunday 28 June 2009, 11:30am

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One dead in 60-vehicle pile-up

One person has died after a huge pile-up on an dual carriageway shrouded in thick fog.

Scores of vehicles, including two fuel tankers, were involved in a series of three crashes on the A19 near Peterlee in County Durham on Friday night.

Firefighters described the scene was one of 'absolute devastation'. One senior officer said he was surprised there were not more serious casualties.

The first incident, involving a petrol tanker, a diesel tanker, two lorries and a car, took place on the southbound carriageway shortly before 10.15pm.

Paramedics and fire crews released a number of people from vehicles, including one from a car trapped between the two tankers.

As police were dealing with that incident, a second series of collisions took place on the other side of the A19, involving 18 vehicles.

A third crash then occurred on the Wellfield slip road, involving three vehicles, one of which was a Vauxhall Astra police car being used to help direct traffic. Nobody is thought to have been hurt in the subsequent incidents.

Dave Turnbull, the fire officer in charge, said: 'My crews heard a series of loud bangs.

'When they responded they found absolute devastation on the fly-over adjacent to the fire station - 20 to 30 cars, a large number of HGVs, a petrol tanker and a large number of people trapped.'

The A19 was closed in both directions and was expected to remain closed for some time.

Dave Turnbull, the fire officer in charge, said he believed up to 60 vehicles could have been involved in the pile-ups on either side of the main carriageway.

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