WITNESSES are being sought to an accident, after a driver was killed on the A172 in North Yorkshire this week.

The fatal collision happened about a mile south of Stokesley yesterday evening (Thursday, April 23).

At about 9.20pm a black Mercedes C-class and a green Citroen Xsara Picasso collided. A man in his forties died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

TC Matthew Tanfield, from North Yorkshire Police’s major collision investigation team, said: “I urge anyone who witnessed the collision, or any of the vehicles involved, to contact the police.

“In particular I want to hear from the drivers of any heavy goods vehicles who may have come across or passed through the scene of the collision, as they may have important information which could help the investigation.”

The road was closed for about five hours while police collision investigators examined the scene.

The few miles of road between the A19 and Stokesley has been the scene of a number of fatal accidents in recent years.

In September last year a 59-year-old taxi driver from Northallerton was killed when his car came off the road and came to rest in some undergrowth near the Ingleby Cross junction.

On April 29 last year, a motorist was killed when a van and a car were involved in a head-on collision on the A172 near Stokesley Leisure Centre as the car headed towards the A19.

In 2006 a woman died and five people were injured on the road, near the B1292 junction.

Anyone with information is asked to dial 101, select option 2 and ask for TC Matthew Tanfield or the Major Collision Investigation Team. Alternatively email; matthew.tanfield@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Please quote reference number 12150067015 when passing information.