A MAN has spoken of how he tried to help the victims of a fatal crash.

The villager was first on the scene of the accident, at Laycock, near Keighley, in which the driver died.

He rang 999 and gave the emergency services what information he could over the phone.

And he then used the headlights of his car to provide extra light as police and paramedics worked at the scene.

The accident happened on Laycock Lane shortly after 11pm yesterday - the same day that another unrelated fatal accident took place on the A629 Aire Valley trunk road, also near Keighley.

In the Laycock incident, a blue Fiat Punto left the road and collided with a road sign and tree.

The driver, who was in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

His name has not been released by police.

Two other occupants of the vehicle, a man in his 20s and the other in his late teens, received serious injuries.

They were taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment.

The older man is said to be in a critical condition, according to police.

Another passenger, a boy in his early teens, received minor injuries.

The villager, who asked not to be named, said he had just let his dog out the house when a passing cyclist told him something had happened “in the dip on the road”.

“I got in my car and went straight there,” he said.

“It was pitch black.

"The spot where it happened is notoriously bad at night.

“The Fiat was up against a tree.

“Someone was screaming but otherwise it was really quiet. I was the only other person there at that time.

“I phoned 999 and within a few minutes a first response ambulance arrived and then the police.

“I stayed to do what I could for the emergency services until they said I was OK to leave. Police then came later to take a statement.

“It’s a really sad situation and I feel for the families and friends of those involved.”

District councillor Cath Bacon, whose Keighley West ward includes Laycock, voiced her shock and sorrow at what happened.

“It’s a tragedy and a terrible waste of life,” she said.

“And coming so soon after the fatal accident on the A629 earlier in the day, it brings home the dangers on our roads.”

In the earlier incident, a man died after a grey Peugeot Partner car left the westbound carriageway of the A629 near Steeton and plunged down an embankment.

Emergency services were called to the incident at about 9.30am.

The driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Paramedics and a clinical supervisor from Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended the incident, plus crews from Bingley and Silsden fire stations.

Today, police said formal identification was yet to be carried out on either of the crash victims.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accidents.

In relation to the Laycock crash, anyone who saw the collision or the movements of the vehicle prior to it is asked to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101, quoting log 2127 of 24 May. For the Steeton crash, call the same number quoting log 0465 of 24 May.