The accident happened on Hesleden Road at around 7.15pm on Sunday.
It involved a Volkswagen Passat and a Citroen C3, which were travelling in opposite directions at the time of the incident.
The driver of the VW, a 19-year-old man from Hesleden, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Three passengers, two boys aged 17 and a 17-year-old girl, were taken to hospital as a precaution. They have since been discharged.
The driver of the Citroen, a 22-year-old woman, was also taken to hospital but has since been discharged.
The road was closed while collision investigators worked at the scene but has since reopened.
Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have dashcam footage of the vehicles prior to the incident.
Anyone who can help, should please contact Durham Constabulary’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit by email at [email protected] quoting incident number 413 of August 2.
