RUSH hour traffic chaos ensued for more than seven hours after an horrific smash on York's outer ring road left one man dead.

The crash, between a car and a Dutch articulated lorry, happened on the A1237 between the Monks Cross and Hopgrove roundabouts at about 11am yesterday.

It was seven-and-a-half hours before the road was reopened at 5.30pm, eating into the evening rush hour traffic scrambling to leave the city and causing long queues on most major routes. The smash left debris strewn across the busy ring road, which was closed while police crash investigators examined the site.

The Dutch articulated lorry collided with a silver Toyota Avensis, which was travelling towards the A64.

The driver of the car, who police have yet to name and whose body was trapped in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Sgt Nigel Atkinson, who is leading the investigation, said: "There has been a heavy impact at the front of the Toyota resulting in fatal injuries to the driver who was the only occupant of the vehicle.

"The driver of the Dutch vehicle was uninjured but was heavily shocked.

"We are not treating the driver of the Dutch registered vehicle as a suspect.

Police closed the stretch of road affected and diverted drivers travelling from Hopgrove along Malton Road towards the city centre.

Motorists travelling from Monks Cross roundabout were sent along the A1237 towards the A19.

One ambulance crew attended the smash. The driver of the Dutch vehicle was not taken to hospital. Three fire engines and a rescue vehicle also attended the scene.

Less than an hour after the road had reopened to traffic at 6.15pm a second crash happened close to the same spot involving a Citroen Saxo and a Honda Civic.

This time the crash happened at the Little Hopgrove roundabout and the road was not closed.

No one was injured but the Citroen was badly damaged in the collision.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the smash to phone police on 0845 6060247.

Updated: 09:40 Friday, October 07, 2005