ONE man was killed and another seriously injured in a road smash between two cars and an HGV on a North Yorkshire road.

The crash happened on the A167 road at Topcliffe Park, just north of Topcliffe, near Thirsk.

A light green Nissan Almera and a red Ford Sierra, heading towards Topcliffe, were in collision with an HGV tipper truck, heading towards Northallerton.

The Sierra driver was confirmed dead at the scene. He has not been named, but was said to be a 34-year-old man from Thirsk.

The Almera driver, from Scorton, near Catterick, suffered head and leg injuries and was taken to the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.

The HGV driver suffered shock. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the accident and later released on police bail.

Sergeant John Lagan said: "At this stage we have no independent witnesses so we are appealing for anyone who has any information to get in touch. It is quite possible other people could have been driving in this area at the time of the accident so if anyone knows anything please contact us."

The crash happened at about 5.55pm yesterday.

Any witnesses are asked to ring 01609 783131 and ask for Traffic Constable Clare Sawyer.

In a separate accident yesterday, Tadcaster man Peter Pew, 53, was seriously injured when the lorry he was driving left the road and hit a tree.

Mr Pew was driving a red flatback lorry along the B1257 Helmsley to Stokesley road at 11.40am when the accident happened. No other vehicles were involved.

He was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital, where his condition was today described as comfortable.

The man killed when his car was in collision with a tractor was 64-year-old Roger Slights, of Flaxman Croft, Copmanthorpe.

Mr Slights's widow, Gladys, 61, was today said to be "comfortable and stable" in York Hospital after suffering arm and chest injuries. The accident happened on the B1253 Sledmere to Bridlington road on Wednesday.

Updated: 12:15 Friday, February 07, 2003