THREE people were injured - two seriously - when a car and a box van collided on the A169 Pickering to Whitby Road.

Catherine Johnson, of Rotherham, a passenger in the Vauxhall car, suffered serious head injuries and was airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, where she was said to be stable today.

The car driver, Ken Brown, from Sheffield, was taken to Scarborough General Hospital with serious injuries. He was today said to be comfortable.

Both had been trapped in the car and were cut free by fire crews.

The van driver, Jim Coates, from Whitwell-on-the-Hill, was also taken to Scarborough General Hospital, although his injuries were not thought to be serious.

The collision occurred at 3.15pm yesterday on the A169, seven miles north of Pickering. The road was closed for several hours and diversions were put in place at Lockton.

Meanwhile, an AA patrolman who was involved in a dramatic rescue on the North York Moors was being rewarded for his bravery today.

Rick Buckley, 29, of Garrowby View, Stamford Bridge, went to the aid of Helen Grieve, a 21-year-old sabbatical officer at York University, after the minibus she was in crashed close to the scene of yesterday's accident.

Updated: 10:55 Thursday, October 23, 2003