A MOTORCYCLIST died in an horrific road accident which closed both lanes of the A64 for almost six hours.

Paul John Stead, 36, of Lilac Avenue, York, was in collision with a car at the Towthorpe junction of the A64 yesterday evening.

The accident took place at about 5.30pm, outside the Four Alls Inn, in Malton Road.

Police said the motorcyclist, who was riding a high-powered Kawasaki ZX7 750cc Ninja machine, collided with a Volkswagen Polo, which was turning into the pub.

Traffic officers closed a mile-and-a-half stretch of the A64 for nearly six hours as investigators examined the accident scene.

Diversions were put in place from the Hopgrove roundabout to Flaxton Lane, but heavy queues still delayed rush-hour motorists.

The road finally reopened at about 11.30pm after a team from City of York Council's highways department had cleaned the surface of the carriageway.

Sergeant Mick Chrome, of North Yorkshire Police, is the officer leading the investigation into the accident.

He confirmed that Mr. Stead had died from his injuries.

He said: "A green Volkswagen Polo was turning right into the pub. A grey Peugeot Saloon was behind that. The motorcyclist came down the side and collided with the Polo.

"The deceased is a male, from York. We do not have an estimate of his age yet.

"We had to close the A64 to carry out investigations.

"We are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. We know there was a queue of traffic following the vehicle."

Sgt Chrome added that the driver of the Volkswagen Polo, 24-year-old Abigail Dunne, from Wigginton, was suffering from severe shock and was being comforted by friends.

Gillian Wiggle, landlady at the Four Alls Inn, said she did not wish to comment about the accident.

But she told the Evening Press that the pub had remained open to witnesses and the police after the crash.

At The Tanglewood, another pub in Malton Road near to the Four Alls Inn, a spokeswoman would only say that the pub had closed early because of the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the accident, or who has any details about it, is being asked to contact York police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:45 Tuesday, April 16, 2002