ONE person was airlifted to hospital and a second taken by road ambulance today after a serious crash on the A19 south of York in which a motorbike caught fire.

North Yorkshire Police said a motorcycle and a car collided between Crockey Hill and Deighton at about 1.45pm, with the motorbike catching fire, and the road was closed but re-opened at 4pm.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it sent a rapid response vehicle, two ambulances and an air ambulance helicopter to the scene.

“One patient was taken to Leeds General Infirmary by air and one patient to York Hospital by road,” she said.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said a crew went to the crash to tackle a vehicle fire.

David Martin, who runs a farm shop at Crockey Hill, said it was the second motorbike crash to have happened within a few hours on a treacherous stretch of the A19.

He said another motorbike collided with a car near his business this morning, but the motorcyclist had survived without serious injury.
He estimated there had been 20 to 30 accidents in the area in the last year and said safety improvements were badly needed.
North Yorkshire Police said earlier this year that officers were looking into placing police safety camera vans at the location.