Treacherous ice causes chaos for motorists in North Yorkshire

Bystanders and off-duty officers were called into action as police dealt with at least four serious ice-related vehicle incidents by 9.45am yesterday (Sunday).

Police were first called to Saltergate, in Pickering, when a car left the road after skidding on ice at about 7.30am.

An off-duty police officer helped at the scene, and a woman involved was taken to hospital with back pain.

At around the same time, North Yorkshire Police said a Renault Twingo car left the road and rolled into a field off the A170 between Pickering and Thornton-le-Dale.

A passing member of staff at the force stopped to help at the scene until officers arrived and no-one was injured.

Elsewhere, a bus became stuck on ice in the road on the roundabout at Kirby Misperton at about 9am yesterday.

A police officer, staff from Flamingo Land and a local farmer all helped to get the bus moving and grit the road without incident.

Just minutes later, a flipped onto its roof after skidding on ice in Acres Lane, Helmsley, at about 9.45am.

The driver suffered hand injuries, police said, and the road was closed while the vehicle was being recovered.

Meanwhile three vehicles collided with a wall on Fletton Road, Norton at about 12.30pm yesterday, after encountering a large amount of black ice on the road.

No-one was injured.

Inspector Martin Dennison, of the Ryedale Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: ““It was a busy morning for officers on Sunday, and we’re very grateful to community-spirited members of the public who stopped to help those involved in collisions.”

Insp Dennison also issued advice to motorists driving in wintry conditions.

"If your route is affected by snow or ice, it is important to give yourself more time, take extra care and adjust your driving to the conditions," he said.

"This could be lowering your speed, increasing breaking distances and making sure lights are on even during the day.

“The phrase that is often used in these circumstances is ‘drive to arrive’, and that is exactly what your priority should be. On treacherous roads, it is literally a case of better late than never."

People have also been urged to check that fuel tanks and de-icers are stocked.

Police advise motorists to carry a torch, warm clothes, a first aid kit, shovel and a tow rope when travelling in wintry conditions.