A DRIVER escaped serious injury following a crash on Skipton's western bypass last night when a wooden post pierced the front of the vehicle and came through the dashboard and into the front seats area.

North Yorkshire Police traffic officer Andrew Ingram said he approached the accident site with caution.

"I feared the occupants were serious injured and dare not look.

"To my amazement the driver had minor injuries and no passengers but was very intoxicated."

The driver was arrested.