A NOTORIOUS North Yorkshire accident black spot has claimed another life and left a female motorist with serious head injuries after being cut from the wreck of her car trapped under a lorry.

The horror smash happened on the eastbound carriageway of the A64 at Golden Hill, near Malton, the scene of several serious accidents in the past.

Three hours later there was another accident at the Whitwell-on-the-Hill turn-off on the A64.

After the first accident, thousands of motorists were caught for several hours in queues in both directions and there was traffic chaos as drivers tried to find alternative routes.

The accident has prompted further calls for the vital transport lifeline to be dualled.

Earlier this month Transport Minister David Jamieson wrote to Ryedale MP John Greenway to say he favoured "lower cost" improvements rather than dualling the road which could cost £535 million.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed a man died in the accident which involved two cars, a van and an articulated lorry.

A spokeswoman for Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service said a woman, who had to be cut from the wreckage of a car wedged under a lorry, was taken by Great North Air Ambulance to James Cook Memorial Hospital, Middlesbrough, with serious head injuries. Two people received treatment for minor injuries after the accident at 12.45pm yesterday.

In the past North Yorkshire Coroner Michael Oakley has likened the stretch to the first bend at Brands Hatch and has called for the whole of the A64 to be made dual carriageway.

Coun Murray Naylor, who has fiercely campaigned during his eight years on North Yorkshire County Council for improvements to the A64, said: "First of all I'm very saddened to hear there's been a fatal accident.

"I think Golden Hill has been a lot safer since they did the work four years ago. I think the delay over making a decision whether to dual or not, or whether to improve the road in stages is very reprehensible.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for witnesses to call 01723 509555.

Inspector Peter Gold, of North Yorkshire Police, said the second accident, at Whitwell, involved a Suzuki motorbike and a BMW 5 Series car. The crash, at about 4pm, occurred on the A64 west bound carriageway.

An ambulance service spokeswoman said a man was taken to York Hospital, but his injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

June 1, 2004: An elderly woman from West Yorkshire died and five people, including two children, were injured.

December 26, 2002: Sharon Docherty, 24, from Liverpool, died after the driver of the Volvo 340 she was a passenger in lost control and hit a car travelling in the opposite direction.

In August 2001: Scarborough pensioner Jack Caldwell died when his car was involved in a collision with a coach.

In 2000: The accident black spot claimed the lives of two teenagers and, weeks later, that of a pensioner - all from Thornton-le-Dale.

Updated: 09:10 Saturday, April 23, 2005