Driver unscathed after horror crash

Scott Johnstone’s Holden Commodore split in two after a crash on Emu Park Road at Tungamull on Monday. He is unsure how he was so lucky to survive.

Chris Ison

HOW did 21-year-old Scott Johnstone survive this?

Even he's not sure.

Scott and police were all “scratching their heads” yesterday as to how he walked away with little more than minor cuts after a head-on collision with a truck on Emu Park Road about 4.40pm Monday.

“The first thing I remember is getting the air bag out of my face,” Scott said.

“It was like an out of body experience, I thought I was dead.

“There was basically just the seat left.”

Speaking from his sister's house in Blackwater yesterday, Scott said he remembers little from the accident which saw his Holden Commodore ripped in half from front to back and where he sustained a 3cm gash to his left elbow.

“I remember seeing the truck and then I jumped out right after that,” he said.

He has taken some time out to recover from an experience where he says he “looked death right in the face” and is unsure how he will be able to drive again.

“Physically I'm not that hurt, but emotionally, it tears you apart.”

Senior Constable Sampson, of the Lakes Creek Police Station, said investigations were continuing but initial reports suggested the Commodore was being driven on the wrong side of the road.

He said there was no indication there had been any defects with the vehicle.

Scott conceded he was on the wrong side of road but remembers little of the events leading up to the crash.

“I must have been distracted. It's still pretty confusing,” he said.

He wanted to thank the people who stopped to help, as well as thanking the emergency services staff who came to his assistance.

The 55-year-old truck driver was not injured in the smash.