Hero Bus Driver In Close Shave With Huge Pole

A bus driver has been hailed a hero after managing to stop his vehicle despite being struck by a huge lamppost smashing through the windscreen.

CCTV footage appears to show Mao Zhihao chatting to someone before spotting the danger ahead, but he has little time to react before the giant blue pole pierces the glass.

He seems to dive out of the way and manages to avoid being hit head-on, but the pole apparently swipes him to the left of his body.

He suffered a ruptured spleen in the accident.

Mr Mao was able to bring the bus to a halt before rising to his feet and helping the 26 passengers to safety.

"I was pinned down by the lamppost and put the bus into gear instinctively," he said.

"I just wanted to slow the bus down.

"I couldn't see the road, and tried to drive it to one side of the road. The bus hit the guardrails and finally stopped."

Mr Mao, who reported the accident to police, was taken to hospital for treatment.

The lamppost toppled after a separate two-car crash in Jiangshan, in China's eastern province of Zheijang, on Monday afternoon.