Tree in Wakefield death crash 'not maintained'

A WOMAN who died after being impaled by a branch when a tree crashed on to her car during heavy rain and high winds in West Yorkshire was named by police today.

Elaine Davison, 55, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, died after the Vauxhall Zafira she was travelling in was hit by the tree in Wakefield last Thursday evening.

She was taken to hospital but died soon afterwards, West Yorkshire Police said.

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The incident happened as high winds and heavy rain battered many parts of the UK last week.

The 54-year-old man who was driving the car before the fatal incident was also hurt, but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A number of homes in the area were evacuated overnight on Thursday and the road - the A642 Wakefield to Rothwell - remained closed for two days while some of the trees were removed.

Three fire crews were called to the scene to free the casualties and a fire service spokesman described the woman as having been "impaled".

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A local tree surgeon at the scene said the trees that lined the road could have become "brittle" through traffic fumes.

Ian Humphries said: "Unfortunately, looking at the tree, the first thing that comes to mind is it has not been maintained in a long while.

"It doesn't look a healthy tree by what has broken off at the top. I would say it's not healthy, it's not healthy by the road traffic going past."