Police are hunting the drivers of two cars after a 39-year-old man was killed after being in collision with three vehicles after a night out.

Stephen Wood was hit in quick succession in the early hours of yesterday as he walked home from a pub in Ilkley.

The female driver of the first vehicle, a Fiat Punto, stopped at the scene and other motorists also pulled over to offer help and call the emergency services.

But the two drivers who also hit Mr Wood failed to stop and are now being sought by police investigating the death.

Mr Wood, of Ilkley, was walking along the A65 between Addingham and Ilkley just after midnight when he was fatally struck three times.

Sergeant Carole Clayton, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “We know that Stephen was drinking earlier in the evening in the Vaults public house in Ilkely.

“It’s possible that he left the pub and headed out of Ilkley along Skipton Road towards Addingham.

“We would like to hear from anyone who was drinking with him or saw him after he left the pub.”

Closed-circuit television camera footage in the area is being examined by detectives to try to identify the drivers who failed to stop. Police were last night unable to give any description of the other two vehicles that hit Mr Wood.

Sgt Clayton said: “We are urging the drivers of both of the cars that didn’t stop after colliding with Stephen to contact us.

“I would also ask anyone who has suspicions about a friend or relative being involved to let us know.”

The Fiat driver is being treated as a witness and had not been arrested last night.

A police spokesman said the dead man’s family had been informed but did not want to comment at this earlier stage in the police investigation.

The spokesman added that, as far as police know, Mr Wood was walking alone when the collisions happened.

Officers sealed off the road between Ilkley and Addingham for around 13 hours.

Traffic tailed back in both directions as late as yesterday afternoon for police to conclude their investigations at the scene.

The scene of the collision on the A65 was close to the junctions with Cocking Lane and Ilkley Road, near a bend in the road where the speed limit changes from 40mph to 50mph. The remote spot is lined by trees.

After the road reopened at around 1.20pm, two recovery trucks arrived to remove two cars being kept under police guard.

A green Fiat Punto and a red Vauxhall Corsa were driven away from the scene.

A member of staff at The Ilkley Moor Vaults pub said he did not wish to comment and the landlord wished to leave any comments to the police.

Witnesses or anyone with any information should call Sgt Clayton on (01924) 293047 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving in connection with the incident.