Car flipped on Darlington road sparking traffic chaos as police hunt fleeing driver

A car flipped and crashed, sparking traffic chaos in Darlington as police hunt for a driver who fled the scene.

Officers were called to Haughton Road on Wednesday (April 1) after a crash just before 3pm left a white Vauxhall Corsa on its roof.

Dramatic pictures show the car with smashed windows while officers block the road.

Durham Police said the driver and passenger are believed to have fled the scene and witnesses are now asked to contact officers.

One grandmother, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I think the car was coming along the road and clipped the back of the silver car and overturned.

(Image: DURHAM POLICE)

"The person that was driving then got out and ran off."

The 65-year-old, who has lived on the road since 1998, added: "It happened just before 3pm.

"My son had been on the phone to me and the next thing I heard was a bang and I looked out and thought, 'that's not the way to park a car!'"

There were two sections of police activity along the road, one near the Throstlenest Avenue junction and the other opposite the Spar petrol garage.

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

A police van was blocking access to Haughton Road from near the flipped car while another police car blocked off Haughton Road from the roundabout.

The incident has sparked significant traffic on roads close to the roundabout.

A force spokesperson said: "Police were called just before 2.55pm today (April 1) following a collision in which a car overturned on Haughton Road, in Darlington.

"The car was reported to have clipped another car before rolling onto its roof.

"The driver and passenger are believed to have fled the scene of the incident - anyone with information that could help identify them should call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 259 of April 1."