A YOUNG man was killed and four other people were seriously injured when a car they were in smashed into a tree on a York road.

All five suffered multiple injuries in the crash, which happened at about 1am in Boroughbridge Road, near the former RR Donnelley site.

A man, believed to be in his early 20s, was pronounced dead at 3.30am at York Hospital. Two 18-year-old males suffered serious head and spinal injuries and multiple fractures. They were later transferred from York Hospital to Hull Royal Infirmary because of the extent of their injuries.

A 17-year-old female suffered facial and neck injuries, and an 18-year-old male suffered spinal injuries. Both were taken to York Hospital.

Firefighters freed four of the victims from the red Ford Sierra using specialist cutting equipment.

All five occupants of the car were believed to be from the York area.

Five ambulance crews attended the scene, along with five fire crews from York, Acomb and Tadcaster.

Sergeant Nigel Atkinson, of York Police, appealed for witnesses to come forward.

"We haven't yet found anyone who saw the incident prior to impact," he said.

Tearful residents told how they were woken by a loud bang and discovered the Sierra wrapped around a tree.

Brenda Hudson, 65, said residents had gone into the street to see if they could help.

She said: "There was debris like tree bark and glass all over the pavement and our drive. The driver seemed to get out but the others were trapped. I've hardly slept all night. It's terrible, so upsetting."

Joyce Hodsdon, 75, said: "I heard a loud bang, woke up and saw lights from police cars reflecting on the wall. I got up to look out of the window and saw a car wrapped around the tree. It was terrible."

One local resident helped comfort one of the victims who escaped from the wreckage, and waited with the trapped occupants until ambulances arrived.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was a "very delicate" operation.

Anyone with information should phone police on 01904 669717.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, July 08, 2003