Knaresborough couple stopped after 15-hour drive to Thirsk

An elderly couple were driving for 15 hours yesterday after getting lost on a 40-minute route from Knaresborough to Thirsk.

The couple, a 96-year-old driver and his 90-year-old partner, were trying to drive to a caravan dealer in Thirsk – a route they had driven many times before.

They set off at 2pm on Sunday and were found by North Yorkshire Police officers at 4.40am on Monday morning near Roecliffe.

The officers were initially called to a suspected drink driver on the A168 near Thirsk. The car was reported to be driving all over the road at 20-25mph.

Police caught up with the car just before the Roecliffe industrial estate roundabout. It was confirmed the “lost and confused” couple had not been anywhere else but had been trying to get home.

Officers took the couple home and have submitted forms to the DVLA over medical concerns for the driver. The driver was also strongly advised to stop driving. A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“It’s a difficult conversation to have, but be honest with your relatives and friends you have medical concerns over. Tell them to stop and report them to the DVLA.

“This driver was nearly 15 hours into a 40-minute journey. The ending could have been much worse.”

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