A TEENAGE driver was today in a critical condition in hospital after he was seriously injured when his car left the road and rolled into a ditch.

John Milburn, 17, from Stillington, near Easingwold, was trapped inside his Citroen AX for up to 25 minutes, North Yorkshire Police believe, before another motorist discovered the wreck and called the emergency services.

The accident last night was one of four serious collisions in North Yorkshire over the Bank Holiday weekend, which left three motorcyclists dead and a pillion passenger seriously injured.

The latest accident happened at about 10.30pm yesterday on Crayke Lane, between Crayke and Stillington, as Mr Milburn was driving towards his home.

The car left the road and came to rest on its roof in a deep ditch and Mr Milburn, the sole occupant, was trapped for some time before a passing motorist discovered the car.

He was released by the fire service and taken to York District Hospital suffering from serious head injuries and was today in a critical condition in the intensive care unit.

If anybody witnessed the accident or has any information they should contact Traffic Constable Andy Langford on 01609 783131.

In a separate incident, motorists endured long delays after an accident involving a lorry and a caravan on the A64 near Malton.

The collision, at 2.20pm yesterday, left the heavy goods vehicle jack-knifed and partially blocking the westbound dual carriageway at the A169 junction. One person suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Malton Hospital.

The caravan was extensively damaged by the collision with the main body separated from the axle. The road reopened at 4pm.

Two motorcyclists, who were killed when their machines collided head-on on the A169 Whitby to Pickering road on Sunday evening were expected to be named by police today. The accident, which happened near the turn-off for Goathland, involved a 600cc Honda and an 1100cc Yamaha.

Officers were also expected to release the name of a woman who was killed on Friday when her motorcycle was in collision with a tractor on an unclassified road between Carlton Husthwaite and Husthwaite, near Thirsk. A pillion passenger was seriously injured in the accident and taken to Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.

Updated: 10:57 Tuesday, May 07, 2002