LATEST NEWS: 97-year-old woman badly injured in A1(M) crash dies

AN ELDERLY woman is fighting for her life after a major crash with a car going the wrong way on the A1(M).

The collision happened at around 3pm yesterday on the northbound carriageway, about a mile from junction 44, near Aberford, just east of Leeds.

It involved a silver Volkswagen Polo and a red Vauxhall Combo van.

Police investigations suggest the Polo had travelled the wrong way along the A64 from North Yorkshire, before joining the A1(M) northbound carriageway.

The car was heading south down this road when the crash happened. 

A woman in her nineties, who was a passenger in the other vehicle (the Combo van), was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said the injuries are believed to be life-threatening, due to the woman's age.

The drivers of both vehicles suffered minor injuries.

Police have launched an appeal for information in relation to the crash.

Anyone who saw the Polo on the A64, or who has dashcam footage that will assist, should contact West Yorkshire Police's Roads Policing Unit (RPU) on 101, or using the contact options on the West Yorkshire Police website.

You should quote log number: 861 of December 30.

A full statement from West Yorkshire Police released today said: "Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision on the A1M Northbound carriageway.

"It happened at around 3pm yesterday, when a silver Volkswagen Polo was in collision with a red Vauxhall Combo van, about a mile from Junction 44 in the Aberford area of Leeds.

"A woman in her nineties, who was a passenger in the Combo van, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, which are said to be life threatening due to her age.

"The drivers of both vehicles suffered minor injuries.

"Enquiries suggest the Polo had travelled the wrong way along the A64 from North Yorkshire before it joined the A1M carriageway, travelling southbound on the northbound carriageway.

"Anyone who saw the Polo on the A64, or who has dashcam footage that will assist is asked to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting log 861 of 30 December."