Driver killed as tree falls on car

A driver was killed instantly when his car was crushed by a falling tree uprooted by high winds battering the Midlands.

Teams of emergency workers had to lift the tree off the silver Mercedes Vaneo to free the 51-year-old man who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The tragedy happened as gusts of wind reached speeds of up to 40mph across the region, with similar forecasts for today and the weekend.

The driver, who has not yet been named, was travelling on the A458 Bridgnorth Road, Stourton, near Stourbridge when the tree hit his eight-seater people carrier.

The road was closed for five-and-a-half hours following the crash near the junction with Hyde Lane at around 11.30pm last night.

Traffic was diverted through Kinver or Wall Heath while emergency crews carried out investigations and cleared debris.

Sgt Lee Hardy, from Staffordshire Police, said: "In high winds, a tree on the grass verge has been uprooted and fallen across the carriageway, colliding with the vehicle. The driver received fatal injuries."

She said there were no passengers in the car.

A retained crew from Kinver fire station and a team from Stafford attended the scene, along with paramedics from the hazardous area response team. Ambulance service spokeswoman

Claire Thomas said: "The driver of the car sustained significant injuries. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent to crews that nothing could be done to save him."

Elsewhere in the Black Country, barriers installed by Severn Trent in Mount Road, Penn, Wolverhampton, as part of a £4 million roadworks scheme were blown over last night.

And a tree on privately-owned land off Wolverhampton Street, Bilston, was brought down by strong winds at 10pm.