Woman impaled by tree branch in Wakefield dies

Image caption, The woman was taken to hospital in Wakefield after the tree smashed into her car

A woman who was impaled by the branch of a tree which smashed into her car in high winds in West Yorkshire has died in hospital.

Police said the tree crashed on to the A642 on the outskirts of Wakefield on Thursday evening.

The 55-year-old Pontefract woman, who was a passenger in the car, was taken to the city's Pinderfields Hospital, where she died a short time later.

The male driver, 54, suffered injuries not thought to be life-threatening.

Police were called to the scene on the A642 - which is the main Wakefield to Rothwell route - just before 2030 GMT.

The incident blocked Aberford Road near the junction with Beaumont Street.

Image caption, The road has been closed while the recovery operation takes place

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed the woman had died in hospital.

She added: "The male driver remains in Pinderfields Hospital and his condition is not considered life-threatening."

A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "This was a tree fallen on to a car and one female, impaled by a branch, was extricated by fire service personnel and passed into the hands of the ambulance service."

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said diversions had been put in place and the road was expected to be closed over the weekend so the tree could be removed.

Police have appealed for witnesses.