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Driver injured in crash trying to avoid flying couch cops $200 fine

A driver was issued a fine after he reportedly crashed his car because a couch fell from a truck travelling in front of him.

Jake Singer was driving with his girlfriend from Boca Raton, in the US state of Florida, on the I-95 highway on February 20 when a couch from a truck fell in front of him, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

Mr Singer swerved and flipped his car to avoid the couch. He and his girlfriend, who has not been named, were both hospitalised.

A crashed car, overturned, is seen in Florida.
Jake Singer was fined over this crash. He swerved to avoid a couch coming off a vehicle in front of him. Source: Twitter/Jake Singer

It could have been far worse though and Mr Singer told the Sun-Sentinel. People "could not believe" he and his partner were okay.

But adding to his anguish, Mr Singer copped a fine over the crash when a police officer arrived at the hospital to give him the ticket.

“TIL (today I learned) that if you swerve to avoid a flying couch on I-95N in FL [Florida], make sure not to change lanes or you’ll get a citation for improper lane change from FL Hwy Patrol [Florida Highway Patrol],” he tweeted.

“Even if your car crashes into the median and flips over, totalled. (We’re both fine, somehow).”

According to the paper, a police officer gave Mr Singer a US$166 (A$213) ticket for “failing to drive in a single lane”.

Police stand by fine

Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Yanko Reyes said the ticket was a tough break for the couple, but it had to be issued.

“Remember, in Florida it is recommended to have at least a two-vehicle length between your vehicle and the vehicles in front of you because that way you have enough time to react in case something like this happens, in case somebody brakes, in case debris falls on the roadway, you’re able to avoid any and all difficulties,” he told the Sun-Sentinel.

But that explanation hasn’t sat well with Mr Singer.

“I hereby challenge Lt Reyes to drive two car lengths behind a flying couch at 80mph (128k/h) and avoid it without leaving your lane,” he tweeted.

“Hope you have enough time to look at the totality of the circumstances.”

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