Fallen branch crushes car

A car was crushed when a tree fell in Cookernup on Sunday afternoon, injuring the female driver.

The freak accident occurred at about 2:20pm on the corner of South Western Highway and McCarthy road, just past Harvey Springs Estate.

The car was travelling northbound when the tree fell on its bonnet.

Police said there were three occupants in the car and it was “absolutely miraculous how anybody survived”.

The female driver was airlifted to hospital with serious lower leg injuries. The two other occupants, a female passenger and a three-year-old child, escaped uninjured.

Harvey and Yarloop police, St John Ambulance, Department of Fire and Emergency Services and SES all attended the incident.

Yarloop Sgt Wayne Byram praised motorists who helped the driver.

“Incredible bravery was shown by motorists at the scene who assisted the stricken vehicle, prior to the emergency services arriving,” Sgt Byram said.

“However, it was shocking to see traffic speeding past emergency service workers attempting to save lives.”