‘Lucky’ driver nearly decapitated after tow bar smashes through windscreen near Worksop

"I'm lucky it didn't hit me straight in the head because it would have taken my head off.”
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A Nottinghamshire motorist cheated death after a 10kg tow bar smashed through his windscreen, leaving him with a horrific gaping wound in his skull.

Jonathan Loates, from Blyth, was driving along a 40mph stretch of road at around 5.15pm on January 9 when the large piece of metal fell off another vehicle, burst through his window and sliced open his head.

Incredibly, the 30-year-old recruitment consultant managed to pull over to the side of the road before collapsing to the ground on the A619 near Worksop.

Crash in Worksop  - Credit: SWNSCrash in Worksop  - Credit: SWNS
Crash in Worksop - Credit: SWNS

Another driver pulled over to help and treated the wound before paramedics arrived.

Jonathan was rushed to hospital where he required more than 100 stitches during a three-hour surgery procedure.

Police say he is "lucky to be alive" and his instinctive reaction to duck saved him from being decapitated.

Jonathan, who is now recovering at home, said: "As I got to the brow of the hill I saw something in the road - I thought it was a bit of wood or some rubbish.

"I went to go round it to the left and the next thing I know there was a massive bang.

"I don't know if it knocked me out or I blacked out but the next thing I remember was getting out with my head pouring with blood.”

He was initially taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary following the collision but was later transferred to a specialist head injury unit in Rotherham.

Officers believe the tow bar may have fallen from another vehicle and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage to come forward.

Jonathan had been driving on the A619 Chesterfield Road, between Darfoulds nursery and the island heading towards Worksop (A60).

PC Anthony Brice, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "He's lucky to be alive. He moved his head a few inches to the side and that saved his life - simple as that."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 642 of January 9, 2020.