Drivers involved in head-on crash die two months later (From The Advertiser Series)

Drivers involved in head-on crash die two months later

9:40am Friday 29th January 2010

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A HEAD-ON road accident has claimed the lives of two men nearly two months after the accident.

The crash happened on the A690 near Brandon, on Wednesday, November 18.

Kenneth Horsman, from Chester-le-Street, suffered serious chest and internal injuries, never left hospital and died on Friday, January 15.

Thomas Cross, from Tow Law, suffered an injury to his right leg and shock and was treated at University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City.

His injuries were initially not thought to be critical.

However, when police tried to contact him to tell him of Mr Horsman’s death, they discovered from his family he had also died, having suffered a heart attack at home, on Wednesday, January 13.

The pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination of Mr Cross has concluded that the heart attack was almost certainly linked to trauma from the crash and the incident is being treated as a double fatal collision.

The crash happened at about 4.30pm, near Littlewhite Farm, between Brandon and Brancepeth.

Mr Horsman, 49, was driving a blue Land Rover Freelander towards Brandon when it crossed into the other carriageway and hit a white Ford Transit van driven by Mr Cross, 52, which was travelling in the opposite direction.

After initially being treated at hospital, Mr Horsman was transferred to the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, where he died nearly two months later.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “Sadly, on January 15, Mr Horsman died from his injuries while still a patient at the Freeman.

“When officers tried to contact Mr Cross to inform him, they discovered from his family that he also had died, after having a heart attack at home two days earlier.”

The two families declined to speak to the media about their loss. However, they agreed to photographs and family details being released.

Mr Horsman, known as Ken, leaves a wife Carol, 23-year-old son Graham and 17-year-old daughter Nicole. He worked for a firm of accountants in Shildon.

Mr Cross was known to friends and family as Tommy.

He leaves a long-term partner, Valerie, and two adult sons who are both aged in their mid-twenties.

Inquests into both deaths will be held by the Durham Coroner.

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