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Horrific footage of motorway crash prompts warning over deadly mistake

A Sydney man is lucky to be alive after flying tools from an unsecured toolbox on another vehicle caused him to lose control of his vehicle on a busy motorway.

In late 2021, Stuart Lane was travelling along the M5 when the toolbox on a car in front of him came loose and tools came hurtling towards him.

The flying tools caused Mr Lane to lose control of his vehicle, he smashed into the concrete barrier on the road and his ute flipped.

He told Nine News everything went into slow motion and did not realise he was fine until he was upside down in his vehicle.

Pictured is the crash on Sydney's M5 motorway.
Stuart Lane was involved in the horrofic crash when a toolbox from a vehicle in front dislodged on the Sydney M5 motorway. Source: Dr Michael De Percy via Nine News

The crash happened late last year and the incident was caught on Dr Michael De Percy's dashcam.

Dr De Percy's windscreen was also smashed due to the flying tools.

"There was a semi-trailer that drove straight past, and it must have it must have missed him by about an inch," Dr De Percy told Nine.

"Thank goodness that truck didn't hit Stuart's ute and that everyone was okay."

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said the footage obtained by Nine was the "most dramatic example" of what can happen if items are not adequately secured in your vehicle.

"I think that's a really alarming and horrifying display of what can go wrong," he said.

"This was a high speed road, 100 kilometres [per hour] motorway and there was a lot of traffic around, and I think anyone who watches that footage will be thinking twice about what's in the back of their ute or vehicle."

The importance of securing vehicle loads

Mr Khoury said unfortunately, incidents like this are not uncommon and can happen to anyone.

Nine reported the police have cleared the driver who owned the toolbox, however, police are investigating the company that professionally fitted it.

Mr Khoury said this instance was particularly worrying, given the toolbox was fitted professionally.

Pictured is Stuart Lane whose ute flipped on the M5.
Stuart Lane said the crash happened in slow motion, but luckily, he was alright. Source: Nine News

However, anyone can have items fly out from their vehicle and anyone can cop a fine.

"So, this is a very timely reminder to make sure that everything is tied down," Mr Khoury said.

"Particularly for people who may be moving house and don't normally carry large amounts of goods in the back of the ute or vehicle, and it's really important that they make sure that everything is died down properly.

"So it's not just for tradies who are driving around every day, but it's for everyone else as well."

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