Woman in freak crash tragedy

A young woman has died after being hit on the head by the mast of a boat which smashed through the windscreen of a car in a freak accident in Bewdley.

The 19-year-old, named locally as Sarah James, was a front seat passenger in a purple Rover when the mast smashed through the windscreen of the car.

The woman, of Highley, near Bridgnorth, died at Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham, yesterday afternoon.

She suffered severe head and neck injuries when the mast came loose from a boat which was being towed by a black Range Rover heading in the opposite direction on the B4194 Dowles Road at about 10.40pm on Wednesday.

The teenager was taken to hospital where she underwent emergency surgery, but police today said she had died of her injuries.

The Range Rover was being driven by a Bewdley man in the direction of the town, while the Rover was being driven by a Cleobury Mortimer man in the direction of Button Oak.

Neither driver was injured.

Constable Sian Davies, of the North Worcestershire Road Policing Unit, described the tragedy as a freak accident and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

"As the vehicles passed, the mast is believed to have come away and gone through the windscreen of the purple Rover, missing the driver, but striking the passenger," she said.

An ambulance, rapid response vehicle and doctor all rushed to the scene to attend to the woman.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Constable Davies at the North Worcestershire Road Policing Unit by calling her on 08457 444888.