A TEENAGER from York and two men from Tadcaster were among four people killed in an horrific car crash on a North Yorkshire road.

Rochelle Ellen Laverack, 16, from Evelyn Crescent, Clifton, York, was a rear seat passenger in a Ford Escort, which collided head on with a Peugeot 306 as both cars travelled along the B1224 near Rufforth, York at about 6pm yesterday.

The Ford was being driven by Jonathan Forster, 20, from Parklands Drive, Tadcaster, and the front seat passenger was Matthew James Fox, 19, of Wilkinson Terrace, Stutton, Tadcaster.

All three died at the scene, along with the driver of the Peugeot, 70-year-old Gordon Browne, from Keighley, West Yorkshire. Mr Browne's wife Hilary, 63, was taken to York District Hospital with serious injuries.

The road was closed for several hours while accident investigators examined the scene. Police are still seeking more witnesses to the collision. Anyone with any information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 01609 783131.

All five had to be cut from the wreckage of their cars after the vehicles collided head-on near Rufforth, York.

The accident happened on the B1224 road, about a mile the York side of Rufforth.

Fire crews from York, Acomb and Tadcaster cut open the wreckage of the two cars, while paramedics and an emergency doctor were called to the scene.

Assistant Divisional Officer Chris Stark said: "It is very sad that, in circumstances such as this, there appears to be little we can do.

"Our firefighters were able to release a woman from this wreckage, which we hope will significantly improve her chances of surviving."

Police closed the road from shortly after 6pm last night while they launched a full-scale investigation. It was not reopened until after midnight.

Traffic Sergeant Mick Crome said: "We don't know the reasons for the accident and that is being looked at now.

"We need to look at the road surfaces and examine the vehicles, and then we'll be doing a partial reconstruction to see how the two cars have collided.

"There's a lot of work to be done. We are hoping that any witnesses who saw anything will contact us immediately."

He said the accident was reported shortly after 6pm by another motorist travelling on the road. He has been interviewed by officers.

The accident involved the Ford Escort, travelling from York towards Rufforth, and a Peugeot 306 which was being driven in the opposite direction.

That stretch of the road is reasonably straight with no junctions, although there is a lay-by next to the crash scene.

Witnesses are asked to contact York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 08:37 Monday, January 28, 2002