A WOMAN was fighting for her life last night after suffering serious head injuries when her car hit a tree on a country road near Easingwold.

The woman, who is in her 20s, was flown to Leeds General Infirmary by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter.

North Yorkshire Police said yesterday evening she was in a “critical, but stable” condition.

The force issued an urgent appeal to trace a woman who stopped and gave the victim first aid until emergency services arrived at the accident, which happened just after 10am on West Moor Road, between Helperby and Raskelf.

A police spokeswoman said: “The crash involved two vehicles – a car and a lorry which were both travelling in the same direction from Helperby towards Raskelf. The car has left the road and hit a tree before coming to rest in a hedge.

“The woman driver of the car sustained serious injuries and has been airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary. The lorry driver was uninjured.”

She said officers were appealing for witnesses to the collision, or anyone who saw the vehicles prior to the crash, to come forward, in particular the first-aider.

It is not known what type of car the first-aider was driving; but she is believed to have been wearing a green apron, police said.

“Officers urge the woman to contact North Yorkshire Police as soon as possible as she could have vital information which could help the investigation into the crash,” said the spokeswoman.

The road was closed all day but reopened at teatime yesterday after collision investigators concluded their examination of the scene and the wreckage was removed.

Anyone with any information is asked to phone TC Mark Thompson on 101.