A MOTORCYCLIST has died and a woman was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a crash on the A64.

North Yorkshire Police were called to the crash close to the Grimston Bar roundabout on the eastbound carriageway at just before 10am on Sunday.

A spokeswoman said the crash involved a Triumph Rocket motorbike and a black Volkswagen Passat.

She said: "Sadly, the rider of the motorcycle, a man in his early fifties from the Nottingham area, died at the scene.

"The pillion passenger, a woman in her early fifties, was taken to the LGI by air ambulance, with serious injuries. The occupants of the VW Passatt from the Durham area were uninjured in the incident, but extremely shaken."

A spokeswoman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service said they were called to the scene at 10.22am, and deployed two rapid response vehicles and two ambulances.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was also called to the scene forcing the road to be closed in both directions for some time.

The road remained closed for more than five hours, eventually reopening at about 6.40pm, causing heavy tailbacks from Copmanthorpe towards the A1(M), with police directing traffic off the A64 onto the A1237 and advising motorists to avoid the area.

Police carried out extensive investigations at the scene while the road was closed, and later appealed to witnesses who saw either vehicle prior to the crash to come forward.

Officers also appealed to anyone who had dashcam footage of the incident contact police.

Anyone who saw the crash should phone 101, press two and ask to speak to Traffic Constable Cobb in the Major Collision Investigation Team.

Anyone who has dash cam footage is asked to send it to MCIT@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

All information or footage should be passed on using reference number NYP-06052018-0203.