A Shropshire car passenger has died of her injuries following a freak accident in which she was hit on the head by the mast of a boat.

The 19-year-old, who was named by locals today as Sarah James from Highley, near Bridgnorth, died at Selly Oak Hospital, in Birmingham, yesterday afternoon following the incident near Bewdley.

Miss James, a front seat passenger in a purple Rover, was struck on the head by the mast which smashed through the windscreen of the car at about 10.40pm on Wednesday.

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.

She was taken to hospital by land ambulance where she underwent emergency surgery, but police today said she had died of her injuries.

A family friend, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s awful. It’s such a tragedy, everybody is gutted. It’s terrible, especially in such a small village. They are a lovely family.”

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 in the incident.

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

“This was a freak incident. As the vehicles passed, the mast is believed to have come away and gone through the windscreen of the purple Rover,” she said.

Anyone with any information can contact Constable Davies at North Worcestershire Road Policing Unit on 08457 444888.

By Jonathan Wood and Kirsty Marston