POLICE are appealing for dash-cam footage and witnesses in a bid to piece together the circumstances of a three-vehicles smash which left a woman fighting for her life.

The collision happened on the A19 in North Yorkshire on Tuesday - and as a result the road was closed for around seven hours - leading to long tailbacks.

Police were first alerted at 12.30pm to reports of a serious collision on the southbound side of the A19 at Trenholme Bar, near to the turn off for Hutton Rudby.

Three vehicles had been involved in the collision – a Ford Luton van which had come to rest partially into the hard shoulder and lane one, a Scania HGV wagon travelling in lane one and a Volvo S40 which was in lane two.

All emergency services attended the scene. A 31-year-old woman passenger from the Volvo was taken to James Cook Hospital by air ambulance, where she is is in a critical condition.

The 54-year-old woman driver of the Volvo sustained serious injuries and was also transported to James Cook Hospital. She too remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Both drivers from the Luton van and the HGV are helping police with their enquiries.

The road was closed between East Rounton and Crathorne, to allow the Collision Investigation Unit to attend and carry out a full investigation of the scene and for the carriageway to be cleared. The road was reopened at 6.55pm

Officers are appealing for any witnesses who saw the collision or either vehicle prior to it, or anyone who may have captured dash-cam footage of the incident to contact them. Call 101, select option two and ask for Sgt Hamish Halloway or email Hamish.Halloway@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk