A 28-YEAR-OLD woman has been killed in a car accident at Drighlington. News of the tragedy has prompted a ward councillor to look into what happened to see if there is any underlying cause which needs further investigation.

The accident happened on Field Head Lane, near the A650 Drighlington bypass, at around 11pm on Friday.

The woman, who had been driving a black Vauxhall Astra towards Bradford, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not yet been released by the police.

A 63-year-old man, who had been driving a white Peugeot Bipper van, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening.

The police are appealing for anyone who saw either vehicle in the lead-up to the crash to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Carole Greaves, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: "Although enquiries are still in their early stages, we believe the Astra might have misjudged a bend which led to it being in collision with the Bipper."

There have been a number of fatal accidents along the Drighlington bypass, including three in 2006.

In July of that year, a Porche 911 Carrera GT3 crashed into a lamppost, killing passenger Richard Whitelock, 21. Driver Sylvester Holmes was later jailed for seven years for causing his death by dangerous driving.

In October 2006, 30-year-old Yasmin Nazir died when her car was hit by a road-sweeper vehicle. Road-sweeper driver Robert Bolam was jailed for seven years.

And in December 2006, 47-year-old Steven Barker died after his Chevrolet Corvette coupe left the road.

Reacting to the latest tragedy, ward councillor Thomas Leadley (Ind, Morley North) said: "We are sad to hear of a death at the bypass and we will see if there is any underlying cause to it, in the junction layout or anything like that."

But Cllr Leadley said he didn't think the area was a particular blackspot.

He said: "It is not a road that sees a great number of accidents, considering people do drive fast there."

Any witnesses are asked to contact Det Con Noel Lowdon at the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101.