A 23-YEAR-OLD man is in a critical condition in hospital, after the car he was a passenger in went out of control and hit a tree.

The crash happened at about 3.15am yesterday, on an unclassified road near Thornton Steward, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

The silver Mitsubishi Warrior left the road on a sharp right-hand bend.

The three men in the car, who are all aged 23 and from the local area, were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

One of the passengers, a man from Carthorpe, was later transferred to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with a serious head injury.

The driver and second passenger remain in Darlington Memorial Hospital. Both are in stable condition.

Traffic Sergeant Clare Sawyer, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I am urging anyone who may have seen the car prior to the collision to come forward and contact the police as soon as possible.”

Anyone who can help the police with their enquiries is urged to contact Sgt Clare Sawyer, on 0845-60-60-24-7