Mast tragedy girl was 'lanced' in car crash
A teenager was killed when the mast of a sailing dinghy pierced the windscreen of the car she was travelling in like "a lance in a medieval jousting contest", a court heard.
A teenager was killed when the mast of a sailing dinghy pierced the windscreen of the car she was travelling in like "a lance in a medieval jousting contest", a court heard.
Sarah Louise James, 19, of Highley, near Bridgnorth, suffered severe facial injuries in the accident on the B14194, near Bewdley, in June 2008, Hereford Crown Court was told. She later died in hospital. Mark Tissiman, who was driving the Range Rover towing the dinghy, denies causing death by dangerous driving.
The court heard Tissiman, aged 48, of Kidderminster Road, Bewdley, was driving home after a day's sailing at Chelmarsh Reservoir, near Bridgnorth, when he passed an oncoming Rover saloon car containing the victim and her friend Duncan Smith.
The court heard the mast of the dinghy had worked itself loose from its fastening and collided with the Rover.
Mr Peter Arnold, prosecuting, said the collision was a tragic accident.
"It pierced the windscreen like a lance in a medieval jousting contest. It narrowly missed the driver but the victim did not stand a chance" said Mr Arnold.
"The defendant realised something was wrong, turned his vehicle around and returned to the scene of the collision."
Experts later found there were deficiencies in the way the mast had been secured.
In a written statement Mr Smith said that he and Miss James were returning to her home in Highley from the cinema when they passed an oncoming 4x4 vehicle.
"I heard a crack and the next thing I knew my mouth was filled with glass," said Mr Smith.
"Sarah was texting on her phone and I shouted to see if she was alright. There was no response but she was still holding her phone.
"The mast had lodged itself into the car and stopped me from leaving the vehicle but some people arrived to help me get out. They went round to Sarah's side of the car and said she had injuries to her face and neck," he added.
Mr Arnold said: "Neither car was speeding, but by some unfortunate quirk of fate the victim met an early and tragic death when the two cars passed each other."
The trial continues.
