A MAN died and two other people suffered serious injuries in a head-on crash on a North Yorkshire road.

The man, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on Wighill Lane, Tadcaster, yesterday, at 4.15pm.

Another man was taken to York Hospital by air ambulance, suffering from neck and arm injuries.

A teenage boy who was in the car with the dead man was taken to York Hospital suffering from serious injuries. Police said a silver Toyota MR2, travelling away from Tadcaster, crossed to the opposite side of the road and a silver Ford Mondeo, which was travelling towards Tadcaster, then collided with the Toyota.

Sergeant Mick Crome said: "For whatever reason, the Toyota has appeared to have crossed the central white line. By how much we do not know."

Two fire crews from Tadcaster had to cut off the car doors of both vehicles to get the victims out.

Anyone with information should phone York Police on 01904 631321.

The Tadcaster accident came less than 48 hours after 23-year-old York man Stephen Dowson, of Bootham Square, died in an accident on the A59 in the city's Boroughbridge Road.

James Martin, 21, from North Street and Glen Carter, 31, suffered serious injuries in the incident. They were said to be stable in Hull Royal Infirmary today. Daniel Baker, 21, from Carr Lane and Portia Jewitt, 17, from St Stephen's Square, were said to be stable in York Hospital today.

Meanwhile, a woman was taken to Harrogate District Hospital after her car collided with the central reservation of the A1, near Allerton Park.The woman, believed to be in her 50s, was trapped in the vehicle after the accident at 4.20pm yesterday.

Updated: 11:02 Thursday, July 10, 2003