Alert – Deadly Storm Babet claims two more victims as car plunges off a bridge in Yorkshire

Deadly Storm Babet has claimed two more victims as a car plunges off a bridge in North Yorkshire. 

The tragic incident happened this afternoon at 1:20pm near Skipton. A man and a woman, both in their 70s, were in the red Vauxhall Grandland which collided with a bridge barrier on the A629 Western Bypass and fell at least 10 metres.

The man was  pronounced dead at the scene and the woman was airlifted to hospital but died shortly after arriving – their next of kin have been informed.

This comes as six others have sadly lost their lives as parts of the UK are hit by unprecedented rain and a second red ‘danger to life’ warning remains in effect in eastern Scotland.

Pictures show the wreckage of the vehicle, which landed on its roof near to a canal.

One onlooker said: ‘It has sparked a huge response from the emergency services. It sounds like an utterly horrific crash.’

North Yorkshire Police tonight appealed for information including dashcam footage.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting reference number 12230200190. 

A spokesperson said: ‘The collision occurred at 1.20pm on the A629 Western Bypass.

‘It involved a dark red Vauxhall Grandland that was travelling south on the bypass in the direction of Keighley from the Gargrave Road roundabout.

‘The vehicle left the carriageway, collided with the bridge barrier and landed near to the canal on Broughton Road.

‘Sadly the driver of the vehicle, a man in his 70s from West Yorkshire, was pronounced dead at the scene.

‘The female passenger, also in her 70s, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, and was pronounced dead a short time later.

‘Their next of kin have been informed.’

Officers have not stated whether the car left the bridge as a result of stormy winds and heavy rain which today battered North Yorkshire.