AN ELDERLY woman died and her two young grand-daughters were injured in a horrific head-on crash.

One of the girls was taken to hospital by air ambulance suffering from "very serious" injuries after the accident on the A170 between Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale.

The woman who died was the 74-year-old driver of a maroon Ford Ka that was in collision with a grey Land Rover Freelander. Police said the dead woman was from Pickering. The road was closed for more than four hours following the accident.

It happened just after 3pm yesterday, 500 metres east of the entrance to Thornton Road Industrial Estate.

The investigating police officer, Sergeant Paul Moon, said: "The 4x4 was going towards Pickering and the Ka towards Scarborough.

"For some reason the Ka seems to have drifted to the wrong side of the road.

"The driver of the Ka received fatal injuries and died at the scene. She was an elderly lady from Pickering.

"The front seat passenger was a four-year-old girl, who was very seriously injured and taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough by helicopter." She was today said to be in a critical condition.

Sgt Moon said a six-year-old girl who was a rear seat passenger in the Ka also received injuries and was taken to Scarborough Hospital. She was expected to be released later today.

The identity of the dead motorist has not yet been released. Sgt Moon said the two young injured passengers were from the Ryedale area.

The driver of the Land Rover, a 64-year-old local man who was recovering from recent heart surgery and was travelling alone, was taken to Scarborough Hospital for treatment.

He was due to return home later today.

Firefighters from Pickering, Malton and Snainton attended the scene, although no hydraulic cutting equipment was needed.

Sgt Moon appealed for anyone who had seen the two vehicles in the moments before the accident to phone the police on 0845 6060247.

Updated: 09:58 Tuesday, August 02, 2005