Women hit by tractor while walking through Helmsley

A pedestrian has been airlifted to hospital after two women were hit by a tractor while walking through a market town.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it was called to the crash on Bridge Street in Helmsley at 12:40 GMT earlier.

One victim was taken to James Cook Hospital by air ambulance and the other by road. A cordon remains at the scene and the road is still closed.

Witnesses said they believed the tractor had mounted the pavement where the women were walking to avoid another vehicle.

An employee at a nearby business, who did not wish to be named, said she had been told the more seriously injured woman had ended up trapped beneath the tractor, which was towing a trailer.

She added: “Bridge Street is still closed. A helicopter came earlier to take a woman to hospital.

“We think a car had pulled up suddenly, which caused a big tractor with a trailer to brake, so it didn’t hit the car. I was told it ended up on the footpath.”

North Yorkshire Police have been contacted for comment.