POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man died and four other people were injured in a collision near Kildwick yesterday afternoon.

It happened at around 3pm on the A629 road, around 400 metres south of the junction with Cononley Lane.

It involved a light blue Alfa Romeo 147 which was travelling towards Skipton, and a silver Peugeot 407 travelling in the opposite direction.

The driver and only occupant of the Alfa Romeo, a 20-year-old man from Long Preston, was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released.

The four occupants of the Peugeot, all from Preston, were taken to Airedale General Hospital. The driver, a 55-year-old man, sustained serious injuries, a 53-year-old woman suffered a broken leg, and a man and woman, both aged 26, were treated for minor injuries.

Officers investigating the collision want to speak to anyone who saw the vehicles prior to the crash. A number of witnesses have come forward who were travelling behind the Peugeot; however, officers also need to speak to anyone who saw the movements of the light blue Alfa Romeo as it travelled along the road.

Traffic Constable Ken Riley, of Skipton Roads Policing Group, said: “It’s important that we speak to people who saw the cars before the collision as well as anyone who saw the crash happen.

“If you can assist in any way, please come forward as you could have important information that could help our investigation.

“I would also like to thank a number of members of the public who stopped at the scene of the crash and helped to administer first aid to the casualties, their assistance was greatly appreciated.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact TC Riley at Skipton Police Station on 101 or email Kenneth.riley@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Please quote reference 12140120030.

The road was closed to allow emergency services to deal with the casualties and to allow collision investigators to examine the scene. It reopened at around 6.50pm.