The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is investigating a crash near Tadcaster in which a 21-year-old North Yorkshire man died and two others were injured, it revealed today (fri).

The horrific crash happened on the A612 at Scarthingwell crossroads at 11pm last night, as the blue Subaru Impreza carrying the men was travelling from Sherburn-in-Elmet towards Tadcaster.

It is understood that the accident happened as the car negotiated a bend and the vehicle flipped over several times.

The three people inside are believed to have been catapulted from the vehicle as it turned over.

The PCA said that details of the four-by-four vehicle had been circulated to police by radio and they were on the lookout for it.

Mark William Beal, 21, of South Milford, was pronounced dead at Pontefract General Infirmary five hours later.

One of the other men was seriously injured and taken to York Hospital, and the third suffered minor injuries. Neither have yet been named.

A PCA spokesman said it did not yet know how the crash happened, but that police had sighted the vehicle several times and that officers found the crashed vehicle.

North Yorkshire Police voluntarily called in the authority to oversee police investigations into the crash.

North Yorkshire deputy coroner Geoff Fell has been informed and is expected to open an inquest within the next few days.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident should contact the police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 17:19 Friday, January 03, 2003