TWO people died and three more were injured in two accidents on North Yorkshire roads.

In the first accident, a car and a coach collided on the A64 between Low Hutton Lane End and the Old Malton Roundabout just to the west of the notorious Golden Hill accident blackspot.

The car driver died and two men and a woman from the coach - which was from the Merseyside area and was believed to have been returning from a trip to Goathland - were taken to Malton Hospital suffering from minor injuries before travelling home on another coach.

Sergeant George Mead, of North Yorkshire Police, said the coach had been travelling towards York and the silver Toyota Corolla car towards Malton when the accident happened.

He added: "The driver of the Toyota died at the scene and had to be cut free from the wreckage of the car by firefighters."

The road was closed for about four-and-a-half hours, and diversions were put in place both east and west bound as traffic queues built up.

Police also had to make sure an ambulance carrying an emergency transfer patient from Scarborough to St James's Hospital in Leeds could get through safely.

"We immediately spoke to the police about the transfer. The ambulance got through safely and the patient is now being treated in Leeds," said an ambulance service spokeswoman.

The Golden Hill stretch of the A64 has seen an improved safety record since its 'crawler lane' was removed earlier this year.

The accident took place at about 4.50pm yesterday. It comes only nine days after two people died in another rush-hour accident on the A64.

Police said the victim had been formally identified, but his name could not yet released because not all relatives had been informed.

Witnesses are asked to contact PC Brian Wilson on 01723 509512.

Early today, an accident blackspot claimed its fifth victim after a driver was killed when his car left the road and ended up on its roof.

The dead driver was said to be 22 and from Brayton. Police have not yet released his name.

The accident happened just before 1am at the notorious Chapel Haddlesey crossroads on the A19.

Police said the Citron Saxo was travelling along the A19 towards Selby when the driver lost control and left the road on a humpbacked bridge next to the crossroads.

The Saxo ploughed into a lamppost and ended up in a ditch on its roof.

Selby firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the driver, who was then taken to Pontefract General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The crossroads area has been the scene of five fatalities in the last seven years.

Updated: 12:44 Saturday, August 11, 2001