Terrifying moment overhanging load from HGV slams into truck driver's cab

An HGV driver narrowly escaped a freak accident when an oncoming lorry's load struck his cab directly in front of the driver's seat.

Mike Reed was travelling along the A436 near Cheltenham on the night of October 1.

Although a handful of cars and HGVs passed him without incident, he experienced the shock of his life when the protruding load from a passing lorry smashed straight into his cab.

The professional driver, from Wiltshire, said he saw the overhanging object at the last minute.

"[There was a] rigid flatbed lorry with unmarked, possibly insecure, load protruding approximately 3 feet over the side of the bed.

"I didn't see the protrusion until the last second so could not avoid it.

"The other driver failed to stop."

+++STILLS AVAILABLE+++