A MOTORCYCLIST suffered serious head and leg injuries today when he was involved in a collision with a car on a York road.

The man was travelling out of York city centre in Holgate Road just before 7am when the crash happened between his machine and a grey-coloured Renault Clio which was pulling out of a private driveway close to the junction with Hamilton Drive East.

The crash caused heavy delays for motorists heading in and out of the city in today's rush-hour traffic.

The motorcyclist, who has not yet been named by police but is in his 40s, was treated at the roadside by paramedics before being taken to York District Hospital with a broken leg and head injuries.

His condition was thought to be serious.

The female driver of the car, who was uninjured, helped police with their inquiries at the scene of the accident.

Road diversions were immediately put in place while investigations were carried out by police.

Motorists were being warned of the collision at points around the city - Holgate Bridge, Water End, Front Street and Hamilton Drive East.

The road was closed and the diversions were in place for most of the morning.

Traffic Constable Iain Atkinson said at the scene of the accident: "A collision took place between a Renault car and a motorcycle at about 7am today.

"We believe the bike was travelling out of York and the other vehicle was pulling out of a private driveway on the corner of Hamilton Drive East when the collision occurred.

"The motorcyclist was taken to York District Hospital by ambulance with serious injuries."

Police today appealed for information following an accident in which a 21-year-old Harrogate woman was fatally injured.

Caroline Sorsby, of Ebor Rise, was a passenger in a BMW 316 Tourer which collided with a Citroen Xantia on the A61 Harrogate Road in Leeds on Friday night. The BMW driver, a 24-year-old Harrogate man, was discharged after treatment at Leeds General Infirmary. The 72-year-old Xantia driver was today in a "very comfortable" condition at St James's Hospital, Leeds.

Police want to speak to the driver of a small blue hatchback which is believed to have been overtaken by the BMW shortly before the accident and will subsequently have passed the scene of the crash.

Updated: 11:45 Wednesday, June 19, 2002