Gutted by fire, the wreckage of two cars on the A64 dramatically illustrates the dangers of this stretch of road. Our picture of the crash will leave every reader amazed and thankful that the drivers escaped unscathed.

With eerie timing, the four-car accident at Bilbrough Top took place the night before the Highways Agency published proposals for a flyover to improve that very junction. The crash underlines emphatically the urgent need for these changes.

The flyover is a direct response to the Evening Press Close The Gaps campaign.

Already our crusade to seal up the lethal A64 central reservation gaps has seen the Colton Lane End gap closed permanently.

But that is only half the job done. As long as the Bilbrough Top gap remains open, this area will be an accident blackspot.

The Highways Agency's plans will make a real difference. At their heart is the flyover, but access to Colton and Bilbrough will also be improved.

Because of the flawed layout and the speed of the dual carriageway traffic, driving along this stretch of road can be harrowing. The changes will make it a much calmer experience.

Every effort should be made to fast-track these plans. More importantly, the Highways Agency must reconsider its decision to keep Bilbrough Top gap open in the meantime.

All the evidence proves that crashes at this junction are inevitable. Last night two people narrowly escaped with their lives. The next victims may not be so lucky. We urge the agency to stop the gap and stop the carnage.