Police name family trio killed in crash

Driver Robert Reed, 75, Natalie Simpson, 18, and her 14-month-old daughter, Destiny Reed, died in the crash on the B1404 between Houghton-le-Spring and Seaham, County Durham, on Wednesday.

Mr Reed’s 74-year-old wife, Margaret, was flown by helicopter to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where she was in a critical but stable condition, Durham Police said.

Ms Simpson was the partner of Mr and Mrs Reed’s grandson, the force said.

The family live in the Houghton-le-Spring area and relatives have asked not be contacted by the media.

The 42-year-old Volvo truck driver, who is from the Hetton-le-Hole area, is due to be questioned later after he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

His lorry was heading towards Houghton-le-Spring and was carrying building materials when it collided with the Reeds’ Renault Megane Scenic coming down the hill. The road is subject to a 60mph limit.

The truck crashed through a hedge and ended up in the middle of a fairway at Sharpley Golf Club.

Simon Weightman, a farmer who diversified to build the golf club, said: “I suddenly saw a lorry in the middle of the fairway. Then I saw a person get out and collapse on the ground.

“Some golfers playing that hole turned out to be detectives and they were very quickly on the scene of the crash.The bang was so loud I thought it must have been a head-on collision.”