PICTURES: Driver's 'lucky escape' after his car hits a wall and somersaults on B862 road near Holm Mains
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A driver was fortunate to escape serious injury near Inverness this morning after his car smashed into a stone wall and somersaulted 10 feet in the air.
Another motorist helped the trapped driver escape through the rear passenger window of his wrecked Renault Megane after the accident on the B862 Inverness to Dores road, just south of Holm Mains.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the car spinning high into the air after striking the road-side dry stane dyke during an overtaking manoeuvre.
They described the driver as “lucky to be alive” after the smash which happened at around 7.20 am.
Police and an ambulance crew attended the scene, with the B862 road closed to traffic in both directions.
Devita Drose (41), a portable dam builder from Shropshire, was travelling in a Mercedes work van to a job on the shores of Loch Ness when the Renault Megane overtook him.
Mr Drose said: “I can’t believe what I saw – it was like something from a movie.
“A colleague’s pick-up truck was ahead of us and the car overtook me.
“There was a terrible noise as it hit the wall and the car flew 10 feet or so into the air and landed with a loud bang.
“I just slammed on the brakes and ran to see if I could help.
“Thankfully he was conscious but stuck and I just climbed up to help pull him out the rear window which had smashed.
“I’m just relieved he is okay. He is very lucky to be alive.”
Highland News and Media reporter Alasdair Fraser was cycling just ahead of Mr Drose’s van.
Mr Fraser (51), of Inverness, saw the car smash to earth just 20 feet or so in front of him.
He said: “I was aware of a van slowing behind me and then the pick-up truck passing me.
“Then there was a deafening rattling sound of stone on metal which must have been the car hitting the wall.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It somersaulted into the air from behind me and flew past before smashing into the road 20 feet or so ahead. I was quite lucky.
“I was amazed he wasn’t badly injured as the car is a write-off.
"Thankfully the guy was just shaken up and didn't want me to call an ambulance, although one arrived at the scene after the police.”
A police spokeswoman said: “No-one was injured and the road has re-opened. The driver is to be reported for a road traffic offence.”
