A VILLAGE was in mourning today after a young man was killed in an horrific car smash near Selby.

Danny Sayner, of Snaith, died instantly in the head-on crash on the A1041 at East Cowick.

Danny, 25, was the front seat passenger in a red Austin Mini, which was in collision with a green Land Rover Discovery travelling in the opposite direction.

The Mini driver, an 18-year-old Snaith man, suffered a broken leg, wrist and cheekbone. He was taken to Pontefract General Infirmary where his condition was described as stable.

A 17-year-old girl, also from Snaith, was in the rear seat. She was taken to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, where she was "stable" after undergoing surgery on leg injuries.

The driver of the Land Rover, a 69-year-old man from Great Heck, suffered facial lacerations and was released after treatment. His 65-year-old wife suffered a broken left ankle and was detained in hospital for observation.

The accident happened at about 9pm on Sunday. The A1041 at East Cowick was blocked for more than six hours. It is understood that Danny, who was single, lived in a flat at Snaith.

His devastated parents, Ruth and Alan, who live in South Parkway, Snaith, were too upset to talk about the tragedy.

One villager said: "Danny had lived all his life in Snaith. It's horrendous - the whole village is in shock."

Another friend said Danny had been working away in Ireland for a drilling company and had returned home for the weekend when the accident happened.

Danny - who used to be called Bottom before changing his name to Sayner - was a former pupil at Snaith Secondary School.

Head of year Grahame Simm today paid tribute to a pupil who had a "lively sense of humour" and had many friends while he was at the school.

Mr Simm said: "Daniel was a keen student, with a wonderful personality, and will be remembered fondly by staff who taught and nurtured him through his early teenage years."

Police today renewed their appeal for witnesses, saying they would like to speak to a number of people who were at the scene when the first officer arrived.

Anyone with information should telephone Goole police on 01405 721013.

Updated: 16:53 Wednesday, May 22, 2002