A WOMAN is in a critical condition in hospital today after a car she was driving crashed 150 metres down an embankment on the North York Moors.

Two children in the car, a boy and girl thought to be teenagers, were also injured in the incident on Saltergate Bank near Pickering at about 4.50pm last night.

The Great North Air Ambulance, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service were called to the scene.

The silver Renault Modus car was travelling towards Whitby on the A169 when it left the road on its nearside, crashing down the embankment for 150 metres before coming to rest by a tree. 

All three people in the car were airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Police said the driver, a 57-year-old woman from Coventry, was the most seriously injured. She is in a critical condition.

A GNAAS spokesman said: "Yorkshire Ambulance paramedics, fire crews and an aircraft from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance were on scene.

"The trauma team of the Great North Air Ambulance anaesthetised their patient on scene as she had suffered critical head and chest injuries. Once stabilised she was flown to the major trauma centre at James Cook Hospital to receive specialist care."

North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group is now appealing for anyone who may have seen the silver Renault Modus car prior to the collision or anyone who witnessed the incident itself to call the force on 101, select option two and ask for Steve James, or email Steven.James771@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Callers should quote reference 12140129355 when providing information about the incident.