(Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE)
A missing woman has been found dead in her car down a ditch off a North Yorkshire A-road.
Tracey Smith, 57, left her home in the Stokesley area in a black Fiat Panda on Friday, July 24.
A major search was launched for Ms Smith and her car with pictures of the 10-plate Panda released by police.
On Tuesday (August 18) a black car was spotted in the in undergrowth down an embankment on the A172, at its junction with the A19 near the Cleveland Tontine near Stokesley.
A woman was found dead inside, and while formal identification is yet to take place, officers believe her to be Ms Smith.
Tracey Smith
(Image: NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE)
The road was closed and is expected to remain closed for some time.
A spokesperson from North Yorkshire Police said: “This is to allow investigators to examine the scene and to recover the vehicle.
"Due to the location of the vehicle, recovery is expected to take some time.
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“Our thanks go to members of the public who responded to appeals for help to find Tracey, including the person who called in after noticing a vehicle in the undergrowth.
“An investigation will be carried out to determine how the car came to leave the road.
“Our thoughts are with Tracey’s family and friends at this very sad time.”