An Ayrshire grandfather is 'fortunate to be alive' after narrowly avoiding a catastrophic automobile crash.
James Mcdowall fortuitously exited his damaged down taxi on one in all Ayrshire's busiest roads earlier than a van ploughed into the again of the motor a matter of seconds later.
A splash-cam inside his automobile — filming the within of the cab and the highway forward — captured the staggering second the supply driver smashed into James' automobile.
The Saltcoats great-grandfather additionally needed to run for his life and conceal behind a tree because the drive of the crash despatched his personal taxi spiralling in direction of him in conjunction with the highway.
Now James' son, Jamie, believes his dad cheated dying twice following the horrifying highway smash.
James' taxi broke down on the A71 westbound between Moorfield roundabout and Corsehill Mount roundabout on Friday simply after 12noon and he referred to as within the incident earlier than making the choice to exit his motor and wait in conjunction with the highway.
Simply 45 seconds after leaving the automobile, the van in query careers into the again of his automobile.
Jamie, who stays in Tenerife, has now issued a warning to different drivers.
He posted on Fb: "So fortunate to nonetheless have my dad right here right this moment. Any individual was watching out for him.
"His taxi broke down and was advised to not sit within the automobile. Look what occurs when he will get out.
"Please, in the event you break down, get out and don’t wait within the automobile, plus get as distant as potential as a result of my dad was far and the automobile hit the tree he was standing at. So he wouldn’t be right here if it wasn’t for the tree."
The video from the within of the automobile reveals a van approaching the again of the taxi at pace and glass shattering with airbags going off on influence.
The highway view reveals James strolling alongside the facet of the highway earlier than the taxi begins spinning in direction of him earlier than the footage ends abruptly.
Chatting with Ayrshire Stay, Jamie mentioned: "He is high quality now however was a bit shook up.
"His taxi simply broke down, he reported it after which acquired out the automobile.
"However as there was no obstacles he thought he was to stroll alongside to the closest tree.
"So then he needed to run out the best way of the taxi that was coming in direction of him and he jumped behind the tree and the automobile hit the tree.
"He was so fortunate twice. Somebody was watching after him for certain."
James was coming back from a rent when the crash occurred with Jamie believing that his dad might sense that the automobiles have been getting too shut for consolation and determined to depart the automobile as quickly as potential.
A Police Scotland spokesperson mentioned: "Police attended a report of a two automobile crash on the A71 in Dreghorn on Friday afternoon. One man was topic of a report back to the procurator fiscal in reference to highway visitors offences."
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