A DRIVER had a lucky escape on Wednesday night after her broken down car was hit from behind by a lorry on the A19.

She had got out of the vehicle and climbed over the crash barrier before her car was struck by the lorry on the southbound carriageway at Thornaby, near Stockton.

Cleveland and Durham Roads Policing Unit posted a picture of the wreckage of her car on its Facebook page and said: "We advise if you breakdown to get out of the car and climb over the crash barrier if it is safe to do so, standing behind the vehicle.

"This driver did exactly that and was fortunately uninjured when her broken down vehicle was hit from behind by a lorry on the A19 southbound at Thornaby this evening.

"If your vehicle is in a dangerous location call 999 and ask for police assistance."