Couple rescued in crash horror (From Gazette & Herald)

Couple rescued in crash horror

A FARMER today told how he fought to free two people from the wreckage of their car after a dramatic crash on a remote country lane.

Brian Greenheld, 61, tried desperately to release the elderly couple from their Citroen ZX, fearing the stricken vehicle - which had come to rest on its side - could burst into flames at any minute.

Fire crews from Malton and Pickering eventually cut free Terence Bentley, 68, and his wife Joan, 67, after the accident.

The couple's car apparently went out of control, mounted a bank and collided with Mr Greenheld's tractor and harvester. Mr Bentley was taken by Yorkshire Air Ambulance to York District Hospital.

His wife was also freed and his daughter, Joanne, 42, who was in the car but managed to free herself, were taken to the same hospital by road.

All three, who come from Pickering, were suffering abdominal and lower back pains, but were comfortable and stable in hospital today.

Mr Greenheld, who lives at Rosedale Abbey, was driving the tractor involved in the crash on the Cropton to Rosedale road.

He said his sister raised the alarm as he fought to rescue the family from their car.

"I was frightened it would go up in flames," said Mr Greenheld. "I got in through a window to kick the sunroof through, but I couldn't do it.

"Two people were at the bottom of the car and there was a dog in there as well."

Emergency workers called a vet out from Kirkbymoorside to treat the injured dog.

Tony Dyer, assistant divisional officer for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The car was on its side when we arrived, so we stabilised it using air bags, chocks of wood and also by tying it to a tree.

"Neither of the people still in the vehicle were trapped, but they

could not get out because it was on its side."

Police closed the road for almost six hours.

PC Graham McCulloch said he believed the car may have already been out of control before it struck Mr Greenheld's vehicle.

He said the car hit Mr Greenheld's tractor and forage harvester as the farmer was turning right out of a field at Yatts Farm.

PC McCulloch said: "The car has been coming over a little bit of a hill and the driver has taken to the nearside of the road.

"The car mounted a bank and turned onto its side and then the front nearside, which would then have been in the air, scraped along the side of the farm

implement."

A motorcyclist from York was today said to be "poorly" after his machine struck a wall, leaving him with serious head injuries.

James O'Neill, of Rufforth, was riding along the B6265 from Whixley into Green Hammerton when his machine left the road.

Acting sergeant Dave Hasney said: "The rider suffered serious head injuries and was taken to York District Hospital."

The accident happened at about 10.45 last night. Any witnesses should phone 01423 539474.

Updated: 15:47 Tuesday, June 25, 2002