POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a car hit a tree in North Yorkshire, leaving three people seriously hurt.

The crash took place on Faceby Road, between the villages of Carlton-in-Cleveland and Faceby, near Stokesley, about 11pm last night.

A dark coloured, 2011 registered Volkswagen Polo left the road and hit a tree, resulting in two female passengers sustaining critical injuries and two men receiving serious injuries.

All four occupants of the car were taken to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. The two women, aged 27 and 30 and from the Cheshire area, remain in a critical condition. 

The driver, a 25-year-old local man, has since been released from hospital.

The other passenger, also a 25-year-old local man, is still in hospital being treated for serious injuries.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the Polo and the four men and women in the area before 11pm.

They would also like to hear from anyone who saw two men with visible injuries walking along Faceby Road towards the village of Carlton-in-Cleveland at around 11pm.

Traffic Sergeant Julian Pearson of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “This collision has left two people with critical injuries and two seriously injured. It’s vital that we know exactly what happened before the crash and afterwards.

“It happened on a quiet rural road and we need every possible witness to come forward to enable us to piece together the sequence of events.

“Did you see the car leave a pub or restaurant, or see it travelling in the area prior to 11pm? Did you see or hear the crash or see two men walking along Faceby Road late at night?

“We urge anyone, even if you believe it’s insignificant information, to please contact us as even the smallest piece of detail could greatly assist our investigation.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option one and pass information to the Force Control Room, quoting reference 12130088042.

Information can also be emailed to tony.leonard@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk