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This is the moment a cement tanker smashes through a line of cars on a busy highway as a terrified driver in the opposite lane slams his vehicle into reverse and speeds backwards.
Dashcam footage shows the tanker veering across the carriageway in Chifeng City, in China's province of Inner Mongolia, on 19th August, before ploughing into oncoming traffic and hurling vehicles aside.
The clip captures cars being spun 180 degrees and pushed off the road as the runaway lorry crashes through one after another.
The driver filming the scene can be seen racing backwards with the tanker looming larger in his windscreen until it finally grinds to a halt just inches away.
Police said the cement truck struck around seven or eight vehicles in total. Images from the scene show mangled wrecks scattered at the roadside.
One driver, Mr Li, said he had only collected his new Xiaomi YU7 three days earlier and was planning a road trip with his wife when it was hit head-on and spun around.
He said: "I waited months to buy this car and just picked it up on 16th August. I was planning a road trip to Inner Mongolia with my wife when we had this accident in Chifeng."
He added: "My airbags deployed and I just sat in the car with no idea what was happening outside. I felt very helpless and my mind went blank."
Both escaped after the airbags deployed, but his wife was later treated in hospital for three broken fingers.
Police are investigating and said brake failure on the tanker is suspected.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Picture Editor: Zorica Stojkovik
Byline Video Editor: David Stojkovic
Byline Copychecker: Emily Wu
Byline Illustrator: Angela Trajkovska
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Chifeng
Subject: Accidents, Accidents Involving People, Road Accidents
T4 Editor Story Rating: 6
T4 Editor Pic/Vid rating: 6
T4 Total rating: 6