A NOTORIOUS accident blackspot has claimed the life of another motorist.

An elderly driver died on the A19 yards north of Shipton when the man's silver Ford Focus was in collision with a silver Audi A6 at Tollerton crossroads shortly before noon yesterday.

The A19 was completely closed around the junction while officers examined the site. All traffic was diverted through Tollerton, where there are temporary traffic lights due to ongoing works by Yorkshire Water, leading to long tailbacks.

At the scene, investigating officer PC Sean Grey said the Ford appeared to have been turning right on to the A19 towards Easingwold when it was in collision with the Audi travelling southbound on the A19.

The Ford was knocked about 30 metres along the A19, while the Audi hit a roadside barrier.

Two ambulances and a helicopter were sent to the site of the accident.

The driver of the Ford, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two occupants of the Audi were taken to York Hospital with minor injuries.

Police have asked for any witnesses to phone PC494 Brian Wilson on 0845 6060247.

The death is the latest in a number of fatal accidents near Tollerton crossroads.

In May 2003, car passenger Joseph Drury, 75, was killed and his two brothers were injured as they turned into the driveway of his farm, yards north of the junction.

In July last year, 36-year-old van driver Sean Galvin, from Gateshead, died in a head-on smash on the same stretch of road.

Residents who live near the junction said motorists were "taking their lives into their hands" when they used it.

Anne Johnson, was in her home on the Tollerton side of the junction at the time of the accident. She said: "There must be at least two or three accidents a year at that junction.

"I've lived here for about five years and I must have been in half-a-dozen near misses myself.

"How many accidents must there be before something is done?"

Another local resident, Garland Copley, who lives on the Huby side of the junction, said: "You take your life in your hands every time you use that junction.

"I use it every day, and you have got to be so careful, because cars drive along the A19 at terrific speeds.

"Something should be done - speed cameras would definitely help."

North Yorkshire County Council group engineer Barrie Mason said: "We take all fatal accidents extremely seriously, and we will be investigating the circumstances surrounding this accident."

The driver killed in a crash on the Castle Howard estate on Monday morning has been formally identified by police.

Lawrence Charles Koppert, aged 23, of Elm Grove, Sherburn, near Malton, died when his car crashed into an archway on the estate, on the Welburn to Slingsby road.

Mr Koppert was pronounced dead at the scene.

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, August 17, 2005