THREE people have been killed in two accidents in Ryedale over the weekend.

On Saturday night a couple who had just got off a double-decker bus on the A64 died when they were hit by a minibus. The accident happened at Crambeck, near Malton, just before midnight.

The following night, a man in his 50s died in a car crash on the A169, near Pickering.

North Yorkshire Police said in the first incident a black Renault minibus travelling west towards York hit a man and a woman who had just got off a Coastliner double-decker bus and were crossing the A64.

The pedestrians, a 52-year-old woman and 51-year-old-man, died at the scene. The road was closed in both directions until nearly 5am while investigations took place.

The Rev Taff Morgan, of St John the Evangelist, Welburn, said: “Crambeck is a very small community and the people who live there know each other very well. The community will certainly be coming together and looking after each other at this very difficult time.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those involved.”

Edmund Collins, managing director of Station Vets, Welburn, and a member of the parish council, said: “Some years ago we asked for islands for people using the bus stops at Crambeck and Welburn, but were told the road isn’t wide enough.

“This incident has been a big shock to everyone and perhaps something now might be down to improve the safety of pedestrians.”

The accident on the A169 Malton Road happened just before 10pm on Sunday. Police said a blue Mini Cooper veered off the road, crashing through a fence into a garden close to The Black Bull Inn.

A man in his 50s, believed to be the driver, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second man, in his 20s and believed to be the passenger, was taken to hospital with injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening. Both men are from the Ryedale area.

A police spokesman said: “Officers are keen to trace the driver of a small, green vehicle who temporarily stopped nearby and may have witnessed the collision.”

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said the road had been the site of many accidents in recent years.

She said: “It was a horrific crash, like something from a movie. I was washing up at the window to the side of my house, and I heard a crunch. Then I saw the car flying over the garden and over the hedge, flipping into a field.

“This road is very, very busy, I can’t emphasise that enough, it can’t keep up like this. It’s just ridiculous. Parts of this road are very dangerous, with many accidents here and they won’t put the speed limit down.”

Anyone who witnessed the A64 accident should phone 101, select option one, and ask for Emma Drummond or Mark Mullins.

Witnesses of the A169 crash should phone 101 or email Lee.Cobb@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference number 12170083224.