Father Dies After Hit-And-Run Collision

A man has been killed and his two-year-old son seriously injured after being hit by a car in County Durham.

Bryan Hardwick, 26, was returning home with his son, daughter and a family friend on Saturday, after collecting conkers. A Rover 45 vehicle ran him over on the A688 at Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. The group were believed to have been on the curb waiting to cross the south westbound lane of the road when the car left the road and struck them.

Mr Hardwick's son Liam - who was in his pushchair when he was hit by the car - is said to be in a serious but stable condition. Liam's three-year-old sister Brogan was unhurt.

Dave Weatherburn, 40, a family friend, was also injured in the hit-and-run incident. His condition is said to be serious.

Police investigating the crash believe the Rover 45 vehicle was fleeing after stealing beer from a nearby supermarket.

After knocking down the pedestrians, the car carrying four people continued on, coming to rest down a grassed embankment and collided with a tree.

Two males travelling in the rear of the car, one aged 22, the other 14 - both from Bishop Auckland - were cut from the vehicle by fire and rescue. The 22-year-old was taken by air ambulance to James Cook Memorial Hospital, the teenager to Newcastle General Hospital.

They are both described as being in a serious condition.

Two men in the front of the car ran from the scene. Two males aged 26 and 18 were later arrested by police were arrested in connection with the crash.

"It is believed that shortly before the incident the occupants of the vehicle were involved in a theft at the Asda supermarket in South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, and investigators are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the theft or saw the vehicle travelling between that location and the scene of the collision," a Police spokesman said.

(JM)