Death car splits

Two other young men also suffered less serious injuries when their car veered off the road at the Little Chef slip road, Bilbrough.

All four men - believed to be from West Yorkshire - were travelling in a red Volkswagen Passat, when it collided with a large sign.

Firefighters from Tadcaster and York were called to the scene at about 7.30am to help release the men from the mangled wreckage.

Sgt Mick Crome said the scene, with car parts spread over 30 metres, was "absolutely horrendous".

He said the car was travelling towards York when it left the road, skidded on a grass verge, and hit a line of shrubs before finally smashing into the ten metre high sign.

All three injured men, who are said to be in their late teens or early twenties, were taken to York District Hospital by ambulance.

The dead man was a rear seat passenger in the car.

Police said they were expecting to close the eastbound carriageway and set up a contra-flow on the westbound carriageway later today, which was already causing York-bound tailbacks earlier today.

Sub-officer Bob Hoskins, of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said this was the 18th road accident Tadcaster firefighters had attended in as many days.

He urged drivers to use their common sense and drive carefully.

He said: "Do not have mentality that it never happens to you, that it's always the other person - because it isn't."

A worker at the nearby Jet Garage said that one of the injured passengers came to the garage to ask for help and for someone to call an ambulance.

She said she did not see the accident because it was dark, but added she heard a loud "thump".

Little Chef site general manager Paul Smith said that his staff did not witness the accident, but were keeping the emergency services supplied with hot drinks.

North Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone who saw the accident is asked to contact them on 01904 631321.

Updated: 12:57 Saturday, January 18, 2003