A TEN-YEAR-OLD boy was airlifted to hospital after a road crash in North Yorkshire, which left four other people injured and caused massive traffic delays.

The rush-hour accident happened on the A169 between Malton and Pickering, when a Vauxhall Corsa and a Nissan pick-up truck collided.

The youngster sustained serious injuries and was taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Inspector Steve Burns, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The collision occurred just north of the junction with the A64 at a junction known locally as Wise House Lane.

"The collision involved a blue Vauxhall Corsa being driven towards Malton and a silver Nissan pick-up which was turning out from Wise House Lane on to the main A169 road. As a result of the collision, a ten-year-old boy who was a passenger in the Vauxhall Corsa sustained serious injuries."

Insp Burns said the driver of the blue Corsa and two other passengers were taken to Scarborough Hospital along with the driver of the silver Nissan for treatment to slight injuries.

The crash occurred at 4.30pm yesterday near Eden Camp, at the junction of Wise House Lane with the A169 near the A64.

Three ambulance crews went to the scene, from Malton, Filey and Driffield.

There were severe traffic delays after the road was closed and local diversions were set up as the police carried out investigations at the scene to try to determine the cause of the accident.

The A169 reopened at 9pm last night.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses of the accident. Anyone who saw the crash, or who saw either vehicle immediately prior to the incident, is asked to phone 0845 6060247.

Paramedics from Malton and Scarborough also attended the scene of a road traffic accident at Rillington crossroads at 7.15pm following a report of "an injured patient".

However, an Ambulance Service spokesman said no casualties were taken to hospital.

Updated: 12:24 Saturday, May 14, 2005