Six people killed in weekend of accidents

One of two victims of fatal accidents on Friday in North Yorkshire was named as Paul Whitehead, 44, of Harrogate.

His family described the keen fisherman and musician, whose Mitsubishi Coupe hit a tree on the B6165, at Nidd, near Harrogate, said he was “happy go lucky and generous to a fault”.

They added: “Paul was a deeply loved son to Rita and brother to Andrew and Dean. The loss of Paul and his zest for life will leave a huge gap in the hearts of his family and friends.”

A 24-year-old motorcyclist who was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary on Friday following a crash at Sutton-in-Craven, possibly involving a black car travelling in the opposite direction, died. He has not yet been named.

Humberside Police, meanwhile, are appealing for witnesses to two fatal accidents on Saturday.

A 45-year-old driver died after his Honda Accord hit a gatepost on Humberston Road, Cleethorpes. A passenger, 26, was “critical but stable” in hospital.

Three hours later, at 8.45am, a motorist, 65, was at the rear of his Land Rover Freelander, stopped on Main Road, Newport, when he was hit by a Land Rover Discovery driven by a Gilberdyke man, 19. He was arrested and bailed.

On Sunday, a male driver, 26, died and three passengers were taken to hospital after a Mercedes-Benz overturned at Whitwell-on-the-Hill, York. And a man in his 60s died when his Mercedes-Benz hit an HGV in the lay-by near the Asenby turn-off of the A168 between Dishforth and Thirsk.