A YOUNG woman died and two people were injured in a car crash in North Yorkshire last night.

The two-vehicle crash happened on the A170, between Wilton and Thornton-le-Dale, near Pickering.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed a woman in her early 20s from Thornton-le-Dale died at the crash scene.

Two other people caught up in the collision, a man and woman, also from Thornton-le-Dale, were treatedat Scarborough General Hospital for minor injuries and shock.

The crash happened at about 9pm last night, when a silver Citroen Saxo travelling towards Scarborough and driven by the young woman was in collision with a blue Skoda Octavia. The Skoda, which police said was carrying an elderly woman and her son, was heading in the direction of Pickering.

Acting Sergeant Andy Langford said police wanted help tracing a vehicle that was travelling in front of the Saxo immediately before the collision.

He said officers believed the Saxo carried out an overtaking manoeuvre before the crash. Police believe the Saxo then lost control and was in collision with the front of the Skoda, before leaving the road.

The crash left the Saxo on a roadside grass verge while the Skoda was stranded in the middle of the A170.

A section of main road between Thirsk and Scarborough was closed as a team of police investigators probed the scene, about half a mile outside Thornton-le-Dale.

Traffic was diverted on to the A64 east of Wilton, away from the crash site. Road blocks were set up outside the village as officers gathered evidence from the damaged cars. Anybody who witnessed the crash should phone PC Ian Barratt on 01723 509555.

Updated: 10:28 Tuesday, November 09, 2004