Berlin - Doctors saved a baby by carrying out an emergency Caesarean section after the mother died in a freak motor accident, police in the city of Braunschweig said Saturday.

The 25-year-old mother, who was seven months pregnant, was killed when a support pillar of a freeway barrier crashed through the windshield of the car she was travelling in. The pillar had broken free as a result of an accident on the opposite side of the freeway.

The woman's 35-year-old partner, who was driving the car, was seriously injured in the accident that occurred near the town of Helmstedt in Lower Saxony.

A police spokesman said the support pillar, measuring 70 centimetres in length and weighing 15 kilograms, had smashed through the windshield with considerable force, hitting the woman in the head and killing her instantly.

Her partner was hit in the shoulder and was taken to hospital.

A trauma surgeon happened to arrive at the scene soon after the accident and administered first aid.

The baby was delivered in a nearby hospital.

The support pillar was dislodged when a 25-year-old French driver lost control of her car travelling in the opposite direction. She and a 32-year-old man travelling with her were unhurt.

The driver told police she had taken evasive action after another vehicle came too close. (dpa)