THE Government has been criticised for "excluding" a major North Yorkshire road from improvements.

The North Yorkshire East coroner Michael Oakley told an inquest into the death of Scarborough pensioner Jack Caldwell that "something very much more serious" would happen on the A64 unless action was taken.

Mr Caldwell, 74, died when his Toyota Corolla was in collision with a coach at Golden Hill, near Malton. The inquest heard from Traffic Constable David Foster that although recent improvements had been carried out on Golden Hill itself, the bend where the accident occurred had not seen any changes.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Oakley criticised the lack of action over upgrading the A64.

He said: "This area of the country seems to be lost in the mists of time as regards central Government.

"Unless something is done about this road there will be an occasion when something very much more serious than this occurs.

"It seems to me very wrong that in this part of the country we have been excluded from some of the recent road improvements that have been announced by the Government." Mr Oakley said the accident blackspot had become notorious, adding: "It's somewhat of a local cause celebre. I note it has taken place on an area of the road that has not been upgraded.

"That to my mind is something that really does need to be given very serious consideration."

Patricia Rutherford, from Sleights, told the inquest she had followed Mr Caldwell's vehicle along the A64.

She had seen his car veer towards the centre of the road twice before the accident.

"I dropped back. When we came to the top of the road on Golden Hill he suddenly went straight across into the centre of the road and hit the bus," she said.

A statement from passenger Eric Hawksworth, who had been sitting directly behind the coach driver, said: "It appeared as though the car driver took no evasive action, he did not appear to swerve at all.

"I thought it was strange and then just before the impact he put his arms across his face."

Mr Caldwell died from multiple injuries at the scene of the crash.

TC Foster said it appeared the pensioner may have been drowsy prior to the accident.

He said: "This type of collision bears all the hallmarks of a fatigue-related incident."

Updated: 10:44 Friday, March 01, 2002