A suspected drink driver was thrown up into the air when his car hit a lamppost at speed and flipped multiple times before it burst into flames.
The dramatic moment was caught on camera from a police helicopter as stunned officers followed the speeding vehicle before it crashed.
The driver was described as making ‘shooting’ gestures with his hands in the seconds before the high-speed crash on the A15 motorway near Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Burn out: A suspected drink driver fled the scene after his car flipped over and burst into flames on the A15 motorway near Rotterdam
Running away: The motorist, pictured above in black, was followed by police helicopter as he attempted to hide in a nearby woodland after the crash
After alarmed motorists warned the police about the dangerous driver, a police helicopter was dispatched.
In recorded video, a helicopter pilot begins by saying: ‘We have vision, and he is taking the exit.’
But as the driver takes the corner, he loses control of his car and crashes through a barrier and hits a lamppost.
The impact causes the car to violently flip over multiple times.
It only comes to a halt when it hits another lamp post as smoke is seen coming from the engine.
Caught: Rotterdam Police say the man (pictured above) was lucky to be alive and said this is a lesson in why motorists should always stay sober
The helicopter pilot is heard saying: ‘I would already send the ambulance.
‘Vehicle is on fire, I think. One person has got out. He is walking away, and is now running and going into the bushes.’
The helicopter turns on its heat sensor to keep track of the suspect while patrol cars move in.
In the end, the man walks out of the small forest patch and turns himself in to the cops while his car burns down completely.
A Rotterdam police spokesman said: ‘Some people have an enormous amount of luck at the right moment – just like this man in the video.
‘This could have ended completely differently for him, but he lives to tell the tale. As far as we know, he did not sustain any injuries. Which is rather bizarre when looking at the images.’
‘The man was not being pursued at the time of the accident. He was driving under influence and was speeding. Of course this is partly the reason for the crash.’
The man’s driving licence was taken away and he was given fines for multiple traffic offences. At a later point, he will have to answer in court as well for his actions.
The spokesman added: ‘This is why you should always drive sober.’