ONE teenager died and another was seriously hurt in a horrific car crash which closed the A64 for seven hours.

The teenagers were in a blue Citroen Saxo, which careered off the westbound carriageway of the road on its nearside, before overturning and plunging down an embankment.

The accident happened near the A19 Fulford interchange, near York, at about 4.50pm on Saturday.

Its impact was so great the car was smashed to pieces, deep tyre grooves were left in the grass of the embankment, and debris was scattered across the field where the car came to rest.

The 17-year-old driver was hurled from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. He has been named as Jonathan Peter Glynn, of Leeds.

The 15-year-old passenger, Robyn Wishart, also of Leeds, was taken by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with serious injuries.

Her condition was "stable, but poorly" yesterday.

Police closed the westbound section of the A64 for seven hours on Saturday while they tried to piece together how the accident happened. That caused lengthy tailbacks in each direction, with drivers diverted off the road.

Kris Britton, of Robin Hood's Bay, was visiting relatives near the accident scene on Saturday and heard the aftermath of the crash.

She said: "We heard lots of sirens, then we heard the air ambulance and saw it fly across the garden. I came across and had a look. There were three fire engines, about five or six police cars and the air ambulance was parked on the road.

"One of the people from the car was being carried on the stretcher to the air ambulance. It's just really scary. I've just seen the aftermath of it - it's just horribly sad."

Inspector Nigel Slater, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "We are appealing for any witnesses who may be able to help, who may have seen the Citroen Saxo travelling from the Pickering area, westbound along the A64, prior to the collision."

Police also want witnesses to another crash that happened in Harrogate.

The accident occurred at about 1.30pm, on Saturday, on Skipton Road, close to its junction with Kings Road.

Two cars were involved, a blue Vauxhall Zafira and maroon Citroen Saxo, both of which were driven by local people. The Zafira driver was taken to Harrogate Hospital with minor injuries, and neither occupant of the Citroen needed hospital treatment.

Anyone saw the either accident should phone police on 0845 6060247.

Information on the A64 crash should be directed to Traffic Constable John Kendall. Witnesses to the Harrogate crash should ask for Traffic Constable Rob Roberts.