Driver's 'Extremely Lucky' Escape From Lorry

A motorist has had what police described as an "extremely lucky escape" after jumping over a crash barrier just before a lorry smashed into his car.

The unnamed man from Manchester was changing a tyre on the hard shoulder when he leapt out of the way - leaving behind the mangled wreckage of his silver Mazda 323.

He had been fetching the spare from the boot when he glanced over his shoulder to see the red Scania charging toward his vehicle.

Moments before the lorry struck the motorist was able to throw himself clear.

Pictures released by North Yorkshire Police show how the car was left a heaped mass of metal on the busy A1, near Wetherby, Yorkshire.

The lorry driver also managed to escape uninjured, police said.

Police are investigating the collision, which happened on Monday morning, and have asked witnesses to get in touch.

Traffic Constable Rob Roberts said: "The motorist had an extremely lucky escape and fortunately he was uninjured in the incident.

"Something told him to look over his shoulder and if he hadn't, we could have been dealing with an extremely tragic outcome."