Heartstopping moment 44-tonne lorry spins out of control into path of oncoming Mercedes leaving driver inches from death
THIS is the heart-stopping moment a lorry spun out of control into an oncoming Mercedes.
Horrific video shows the HGV swerving violently across a busy main road and the smash resulted in serious injuries for the passenger of the car involved.
In the dashcam clip, the large white lorry is travelling in the opposite direction on the road in Cambridgeshire before it seemingly clips the grass verge.
This causes it to suddenly change course into the other lane.
As it attempts to correct its course, the cab veers back towards the right, leaving it jack-knifed.
The Merc driver tried their best to avoid the horror scene but slammed into the rear corner of the cab.
Photos from the scene show that the front end of the SUV was left crumpled as steam billowed out.
I thought I was going to die
Mercedes passenger
Cops rushed to the scene and arrested lorry driver Anthony Campbell after he failed an initial drug test.
Campbell, 55, was found to have used cannabis and to be more than double the legal driving limit over 5 hours after the collision.
The 38-year-old passenger of the Mercedes was left with severe injuries and required surgery in the wake of the smash.
In a victim impact statement submitted to Campbell’s trial, they said: “When I was trapped in the car at the scene of the crash, I thought I was going to die.
“After my release from hospital I remember seeing lorries diving on the roads and I was shouting ‘slow down’ and grabbing hold of the handles in the car.
“This was the first time it hit me how scared I was following the accident.
“I can’t believe someone would be so stupid as to drive a 44-tonne lorry with drugs in their system.
“The whole incident has left me sad, upset and angry. What he did that day could have easily killed us.”
Indeed, experts from Cambridgeshire Police said it was a “miracle” that nobody had been killed, as the car driver escaped with minor injuries.
Most Common Illegal Driving Activities
Here's a list of reckless driving behaviour and the fines and penalties you risk getting from it.
- Using phone while driving
Cheeky glance at a phone screen will result in six penalty points on your licence and a £200 fine
New drivers might lose their licence if caught doing so within two years of obtaining it - Speeding
Lovers of fast and furious will end up with minimum three points and £100 fine - Running a red light
This offence will incur three points and £100 fine - Middle lane hogging
It constitutes careless driving and police will hand you out a £100 fine with three penalty points - Undertaking
This could possibly result in three points on your license and a £100 fine
Campbell, of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Peterborough Crown Court on July 12.
He was jailed for two years and disqualified from driving for four.
PC Boris Khan of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit added: “Campbell displayed unbelievable recklessness and ignorance in getting behind the wheel after smoking cannabis.
“It is nothing short of a miracle that the driver and the passenger in the Mercedes are still here today.
“While they continue to recover from their injuries, I hope the victims feel a sense of justice and closure following this sentence.
“Anyone who drives after taking illegal drugs is putting people’s lives at risk and it is completely unacceptable.”
