Woman driver, 81, dies in three-car crash

The woman was driving a blue Honda Jazz at the Thistle Hill junction on the A658 when she was involved in the crash with a white Ford Escort van, travelling from Harrogate, at 5.45pm on Thursday.

The van then collided with a black Toyota Corolla, which was travelling in the opposite direction.

North Yorkshire Police said the woman, from the Leeds area, suffered serious injuries in the crash and died as a result.

The driver of the van, a 39-year-old man from Thirsk, was treated in hospital for minor injuries.

The driver of the Toyota, a 48-year-old woman from the Harrogate area, was uninjured.

Police investigators attended the scene and the road was closed for six hours.

Anyone who saw the collision, or any of the vehicles prior to the crash, is asked to contact Traffic Constable Steve Wright, at Harrogate Roads Policing Group, on 0845 6060247.