Published: Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 5:14pm

Driver 'lucky to be alive' after horror car crash

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By Ewan McInnes

A DRIVER who lost control of his motor and flipped it just yards from a high school escaped with only minor injuries.

And miraculously no innocent bystanders were injured in the collision.

On Monday afternoon at 3pm, Colin Knox was driving to his wife's house in Barrhead when he lost control of his T-reg silver BMW 318 at Dovecothall roundabout.

After crashing into a roadside barrier the car spun upside down on to Aurs Road, yards from Barrhead High School.

Two police cars raced to the scene by which point Mr Knox had already dragged himself from the motor.

Speaking to the Barrhead News only minutes after the crash, Mr Knox told how he lost control of the car when he found himself upside down in the motor.

He had to drag himself through the smashed window on the driver's side of the car.

The visibly shaken 41-year-old said: "They wanted me to go to hospital but I've only got a sore shoulder.

"I had to crawl out the window of the motor.

"I was just on a wee message when it happened and I am more concerned about my motor to be honest.

"I can't see that car getting back on the road again."

Mr Knox had just bought a new mobile phone and he showed the News how the impact of the crash had shattered the device.

Sister-in-law Nikla Archibald, 18, who was at the crash scene within minutes, told how she received a phone call telling her what had happened and was delighted to see Colin alive.

She added: "He told me he was coming round the roundabout and the back end just went.

"I got a phone call to say what had happened and as you can see the car is in some nick.

"I am just glad that no-one has been injured and that Colin is okay, that's the main thing because it could have been a lot worse, someone could have been killed."

Because of the accident police had to block off the Dovecothall roundabout entrance to Aurs Road for an hour causing disruption to bus services and all affected were running about 20 minutes late.

Maurice Bowyer, a supervisor for local bus company McGill's, was at the scene of the crash to divert his buses and direct them on to a temporary route.

He said that unfortunately about eight buses were running late and some passengers, including school kids from Barrhead High, would have to make alternative travel arrangements.

A police spokesman said: "The driver of a vehicle who crashed his car on Aurs Road has been charged with careless driving and a report has been sent to the Procurator Fiscal."