Two crashes close A19 near Thirsk

Emergency services were called to the crashes in the Thirsk area on Wednesday afternoon (July 1) and in the early hours of Thursday. One person was taken to hospital after the crash close to Great Thirkleby on Wednesday, which saw the A19 shut in both directions from its junctions with Low Lane and The Avenue. Police and ambulance crews, including two air ambulances, were called to the crash on Wednesday at around 2.15pm.[1]

North Yorkshire Police urged drivers to avoid the area after the collision. "The road is currently closed in both directions and is expected to remain closed for some time while emergency services respond and enquiries are carried out," a force spokesperson said at the time. An eyewitness said an air ambulance landed at the crash site, near the Thirkleby Hall junction, at 2.50pm.

Another eyewitness said the road was blocked with police turning vehicles around. A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "Ambulance resources, including two ambulances, a specialist paramedic (critical care) and an air ambulance, were dispatched to the scene. "One patient has been conveyed to hospital."

On Thursday, meanwhile, a serious crash closed the A19 north of Thirsk.[2] Emergency services were called to the scene at around 2.50am on Thursday, with the A19 closed southbound from the A684 at Osmotherley to the A168 at South Kilvington until 9.45am. North Yorkshire Police asked drivers to avoid the area while the closure was in place with diversions in place.

National Highways said officers completed an investigation of the scene after the crash. "On scene investigation works have been completed. No significant residual delays in the area," a National Highways spokesperson said shortly after the A19 reopened on Thursday morning.

The stretch of the A19 where the collisions happened is near the location of the fatal crash that saw Rosie Prior, a York police officer, and Ryan Welford, from Knaresborough, killed after being struck by a lorry.

PC Prior, 45, was off-duty but stopped to help Mr Welford, 41, who was standing on a grass verge, when they were hit by the lorry near Bagby on January 11 last year.[3]

North Yorkshire Police's chief constable, Tim Forber, said PC Prior "epitomises the very best of British policing", while Mr Welford's family described him as a "hard working and loving father, husband, son and brother".

References

1. ^ Wednesday at around 2.15pm. (www.yorkpress.co.uk)
2. ^ serious crash closed the A19 north of Thirsk. (www.yorkpress.co.uk)
3. ^ January 11 last year. (www.yorkpress.co.uk)