A CASUALTY was airlifted to hospital following a five-vehicle smash on a bypass.

The 22-year-old driver of a blue Honda Accord was cut our of his car by firefighters after a collision on the A171 near Guisborough this morning.

He was flown to by Great North Air Ambulance James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough suffering from multiple fractures to his leg and lacerations to his head.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said his injuries were serious but not life threatening.

The driver of a Mitsubishi Shogun, 45, was taken by road ambulance to the same hospital with a broken leg.

After the initial crash between the two cars, a secondary collision occurred involving a van, red Corsa and an articulated trailer.

The road was closed for several hours yesterday causing long tailbacks while debris was removed.