A WOMAN has died after her car and a lorry collided head-on on a notorious trunk road.

The 73-year-old's blue Vauxhall Nova collided with the yellow Ford Iveco tipper lorry near the Hewson and Robinson Garage on the A1079, close to the Barmby Moor junction, Pocklington.

Both vehicles overturned and were badly damaged.

The woman, who has not been named, but is from Cottingham, near Hull, was confirmed dead at the scene.

The 37-year-old lorry driver, who is from Norton-upon-Derwent, was taken to York District Hospital suffering from shock and minor injuries.

Humberside Police spokesman, Inspector Steve Page, said: "Early indications are that, for a reason yet to be ascertained, the Nova car appeared to cross over to the wrong side of the road and collide with the tipper lorry head-on. The weather was dry and fine at the time of the incident with a national speed limit of 60mph."

Fire appliances from Pocklington and Market Weighton attended the incident, and firefighters used cutting equipment to free the woman from the wreckage of her car.

"The rescue support unit from Scunthorpe was also mobilised, but not needed," said a Humberside Fire Brigade spokeswoman.

The road was closed for almost five hours, and long queues of traffic built up while it was cleared.

Police set up diversions through Wilberfoss in the eastbound direction and Allerthorpe westbound.

The accident happened just after 1.30pm yesterday. Any witnesses are asked to ring Bridlington Police on 01262 402700.

The A1079's safety record had improved recently after a number of improvements were made to blackspot patches.

The changes included improvements to the stretch between Barmby Moor and the junction leading to Pocklington Gliding Club - just a short distance from where yesterday's accident happened.

The road had attracted the grisly nickname 'coroner's corner' because of the number of people dying on it.

Updated: 11:28 Tuesday, October 09, 2001