A 97-YEAR-OLD woman who was badly injured in a major crash on the A1(M) last week has died.

West Yorkshire Police said this afternoon that Joan Croucher, who was from the Filey area of North Yorkshire, died in hospital yesterday.

Joan was a passenger in a silver Volkswagen Polo that was going the wrong way (southbound) on the A1(M) northbound carriageway, according to police investigations, when it was in collision with a red Vauxhall Combo van.

A statement from West Yorkshire Police last week initially said she was the passenger in the van and not the Polo.

The crash happened at about 3pm last Thursday (December 30) and was about a mile from junction 44, near Aberford, just east of Leeds.

Joan suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, where she had been fighting for her life for four days.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Early police enquiries last week suggested 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. 

West Yorkshire Police launched an appeal for information last Friday and have released an updated appeal today, with the crash now under investigation by the force's Major Collision Enquiry Team.

Sergeant Paul Lightowler, said: “We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to this collision, as well as anyone who saw, or who has dashcam footage of the Polo as it travelled the wrong way down the A64 in North Yorkshire.

“We are also supporting Joan’s family as they try to come to terms with her passing.”

Anyone who saw the Polo on the A64, or who has dashcam footage that will assist, should contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team 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 said: "Police investigating a road traffic collision on the A1M Northbound carriageway have released an updated appeal for witnesses after the elderly woman seriously injured in it passed away in hospital.

"Joan Croucher, who was 97 and from the Filey area of North Yorkshire, sadly died yesterday (Monday).  

"Joan was a passenger in a silver Volkswagen Polo, which was travelling southbound on the Northbound carriageway when it was in collision with a red Vauxhall Combo van at about 3pm on 30 December.

"Both drivers suffered minor injuries in the collision, which happened about a mile from Junction 44 in the Aberford area of Leeds.

"The collision is now under the investigation of the Major Collision Enquiry Team.

"Sergeant Paul Lightowler, said: 'We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to this collision, as well as anyone who saw, or who has dashcam footage of the Polo as it travelled the wrong way down the A64 in North Yorkshire.

"'We are also supporting Joan’s family as they try to come to terms with her passing.”

"'Anyone who saw the Polo on the A64, or who has dashcam footage that will assist is asked to contact the Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101, quoting log 861 of 30 December.'"