North Yorkshire Police find body following search for missing Stokesley woman
North Yorkshire Police believe a body found in a car that crashed off the A172 near the Cleveland Tontine is that of missing Stokesley woman Tracey Smith.
Last night (18 August 2026) North Yorkshire Police were called by a member of the public after they noticed a black vehicle had come to rest in undergrowth down an embankment on the A172 at its junction with the A19 near the Cleveland Tontine.
A police spokesperson said: “Sadly, the sole occupant of the vehicle was found deceased inside.
“While formal identification is yet to take place, officers believe the deceased to be missing Tracey Smith from the Stokesley area.
“The road was closed and remain closed for most of the day. This was to allow investigators to examine the scene and to recover the vehicle. Due to the location of the vehicle, forensic examination and recovery took longer than usual.
"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.”