THREE people were taken to York District Hospital after a three-car pile up on the A19 today.

A male pedestrian was injured and two women had to be cut free from a car following the accident, which took place between Riccall and Escrick at about 7.30am.

One of the women had a chest injury and the other had an arm injury, while the man had a back injury.

It is believed a white Fiat Uno, in which the two women were travelling south on the A19, collided with a blue Peugeot and a Ford Escort van travelling in the opposite direction.

The Escort van and the Peugeot ended up in a roadside ditch.

Sgt Ian Butler, of the Central Area Roads Policing Group, said: "We know that the Escort van and the blue Peugeot were completing some sort of overtaking manoeuvre when they were in collision with the other vehicle, but that is all we know at the moment. The man who was injured was not from any of the vehicles, so we assume that he was a pedestrian. Anybody who witnessed the accident or who saw the cars prior to the accident should contact us."

The drivers of the Peugeot and the Escort van escaped uninjured.

Four fire crews from Selby and Tadcaster attended the incident.

Anybody with any information should phone Central Area Roads Policing Group on 01904 669727.

Updated: 11:53 Friday, April 11, 2003