POLICE are anxious to trace a lorry driver after a serious accident on the M1.

They say the driver may not know he has been in a crash and may have found damage to the back of his vehicle later.

But he may have seen a serious accident in front of him.

The incidents happened on the northbound carriageway, between junctions 36 and 37 near Barnsley, at 3.10am last Thursday.

Barnsley woman Tracy Ann Stirling - who was 19 yesterday - was a back seat passenger in a Peugeot 309 car which smashed into the central barrier.

A police spokes- woman said: "She was thrown out and on to the carriageway, so was very lucky to survive."

Ms Stirling suffered head, back and arm injuries and is "stable and improving" in Barnsley District General Hospital.

The lorry and an LDV Convoy van were both also travelling north. The van hit the back of the lorry in the aftermath of the car crash.

Officers want to trace the lorry, which did not stop at the scene.

Pc John Scruby said: "It is more than possible the driver knew nothing about the collision with the van, but will have seen the Peugeot and taken evasive action.

"There's nothing for the driver to worry about, but it would help if he could get in touch."

A Barnsley man in his early 20s who was driving the Peugeot was arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving.

He was bailed, pending further inquiries.

The lorry driver should phone the Accident Witness Helpline on 0114 220 2970.