TRAFFIC chaos hit the centre of York today for the second time in 24 hours.

A pedestrian in his 60s was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after an accident on Skeldergate Bridge.

Traffic backed up along the ring road following the crash.

One of the major routes out of the city was closed for several hours yesterday following a fatal accident.

A man, from the York area, died after his Renault Clio car swerved into a queuing taxi at the junction of Avenue Terrace, near Clifton Green.

The elderly man injured in today's incident was taken to York Hospital by ambulance after the accident, which happened at 10.20am.

The incident involved six vehicles. A man in a silver Rover complained of back pain but declined hospital treatment.

A spokeswoman for Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "A male patient in his 60s was taken by ambulance to York District Hospital suffering from a fairly serious lower leg injury."

Meanwhile, it is believed the victim of yesterday's accident - who was pronounced dead at York Hospital - may have suffered a heart attack moments before the collision.

A Land Rover Discovery 4x4 was also in collision with the private hire Vauxhall Vectra car, but neither driver was hurt.

The road was cordoned-off by police for more than three hours as officers investigated the circumstances of the crash.

Hundreds of motorists heading north towards the A19 and elsewhere were forced to make lengthy detours, which caused heavy congestion on the A1237 bypass and on other major arterial routes out of the city.

The victim was believed to be in his mid-50s.

Sergeant Nigel Atkinson, of North Yorkshire Police, said there had been heavy disruption on the city centre's main roads and particularly the A19 heading north because of the road closure.

He said: "It is regrettable, but unfortunately we must get all the evidence we can from the scene. The investigation takes precedence over traffic disruption."

Sgt Atkinson said there was a possibility the victim suffered a heart seizure at the wheel prior to the crash.

An ambulance spokeswoman said a cycling paramedic was on the scene within minutes, and was later supported by an ambulance crew, who took the man to hospital.

The crash occurred just after 1pm yesterday, and the road was reopened at 4pm.

An operator at Local Taxis, whose car was struck by the Clio, said the driver was shaken, but uninjured.

"He did not need to go to hospital," she said.

Mo Ede, who works at a sandwich bar opposite where the crash occurred, was serving customers when they heard a loud bang.

She said: "One of our customers rushed out to see what was happening and then came running back in to ask us to call for an ambulance. It was very unsettling and a real shock for us all."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "It appears one of the drivers may have been taken ill at the wheel."

Any witnesses are asked to phone police on 0845 6060247.

Updated: 14:32 Tuesday, January 17, 2006