An East Yorkshire man was critically ill in hospital today after a road accident which brought rush hour traffic chaos to York.

The wrecked Jaguar XJS which was in collision with the tractor and trailer (in background) on the A64

Raymond Barry, of Stamford Bridge, suffered head and severe leg injuries when his Jaguar saloon car was in a crash with a tractor and trailer.

He had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters before being taken to York District Hospital.

He was later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where his condition was today described as "critical but stable" Both Mr Barry's car and the tractor, which was carrying another tractor on its trailer, were travelling on the westbound carriageway of the A64 when the accident happened just east of the Fulford interchange. The red Jaguar XJS was in collision with the back of the trailer.

Jeffrey and Joan Knowles, both 66, from Acaster Malbis, who were in the tractor, were treated at York District Hospital for minor injuries and shock.

Both lanes of the westbound carriageway between Fulford and Grimston were closed for an hour after the accident.

For another hour, only one lane was open along the busy stretch and the road was finally clear at 5.20pm last night.

By that time huge traffic queues had built up around York, bringing outer ring road and city centre motorists to a standstill.

Drivers reported waits of half an hour to get from the city centre to the ring road up both Fulford Road and Hull Road, and queues between the A64 from Scarborough junction with the outer ring road and Grimston Bar.

More congestion in the city centre was caused by motorists trying to avoid the queues or turning round to use another route home.

A police spokesman said: "Traffic blocked most of the city up for about an hour as vehicles were diverted onto the Hull Road."

Anyone who saw the accident or the two vehicles before the collision took place should contact York Police on 01904 631321.

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