A DRIVER has died after a second fatal accident on North Yorkshire’s roads this morning.

Police are still at the scene of a collision between a car and an HGV in a lay-by on the north-bound carriageway of the A168 between Dishforth and Thirsk.

The accident happened at about 10.30am this morning (Sunday, December 7) and involved a dark blue Mercedes A-Class car which collided with the rear of a green and white lorry parked in the lay-by near the Asenby turn-off.

The driver of the Mercedes, a man aged in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin are still being traced by officers.

The lorry driver, a man aged in his 30s, was uninjured.

Both lanes of the north-bound carriageway of the A168 remain closed at this time while police investigate the collision scene and to allow the vehicles to be recovered.

Local diversions have been put in place and motorists heading north towards Teesside on the A19 are asked to listen to traffic and travel bulletins for the latest updates about the road closure.

Witnesses to the collision or anyone who recalls seeing the dark blue Mercedes A-class car prior to the incident, are urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Chris Garbutt or Graham Waller or email Chris.Garbutt@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference; NYP-07122014-0181 when providing information.

It is the second fatal collision on North Yorkshire’s roads in the space of 12 hours.

At 12.30am this morning (Sunday, December 7) a 26-year-old man from Malton was killed on the A64 at Whitwell-on-the-Hill just outside York.

His car, also a Mercedes, was in the outside lane of the dual carriageway when it collided with the central reservation barrier and overturned.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three passengers were taken to York District Hospital by ambulance. A 22-year-old woman from Malton with serious leg injuries, an 18-year-old woman from Malton with neck and spinal injuries, and a 29-year-old man from the Knaresborough area with cuts and bruises. Any witnesses to this incident should also contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for the Major Collision Investigation Team.