SHOCKING video captured the moment an elderly woman drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway – missing a collision with a HGV by seconds.
Leonard Connelly, who captured the clip on his dashcam, said multiple vehicles had to swerve out of the way of the driver, who was going at 70mph.
Leonard, 58, was on the A725 near Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, when he saw the car coming at him as fast as vehicles in the correct carriageway.
The delivery driver pulled into the left hand lane only seconds before the blue Renault suddently appeared in the fast lane yesterday afternoon (SUN).
Leonard believes that if it wasn’t for the quick maneuvering of the vehicles behind him to get out of the driver’s way, there could have been a multiple car collision with fatalities.
Leonard posted the clip with the caption: “Eight Seconds From Death. Captured today on my truck Dash Cam on the East Kilbride A725, near Blantyre at 12.41.”
The clip has been viewed 44,000 times since it was shared yesterday, with many witnesses coming forward after seeing the footage.
The clip begins with Leonard in his delivery truck sitting in the outside lane.
The 58-year-old indicates to cross over into the left hand lane, and as he does so a vehicle can be spotted in the distance coming the wrong way round a bend ahead.
The blue Renault continues driving down the fast lane of the dual carriageway, heading into busy traffic which was sitting behind Leonard.
Speaking today, Leonard said that many witnesses to the incident had contacted him on social media after seeing the clip, including one woman who followed the Renault driver for 20 minutes before she eventually pulled over.
Leonard said today: “She told me it was an old lady, and that she seemed confused. I don’t understand the mentality of it, I actually thought it was a boy racer they were going that fast.
“I didn’t expect to see someone heading towards me at 70mph, I was only going at about 50mph. There was an eight second gap from when I pulled into the left lane to when the driver appeared. I could have jackknifed and taken cars out, and she didn’t even slow down as she approached.
“It could have been a multiple vehicle collision, people could have died. There were families behind me out celebrating Mother’s Day with kids in the back, and they all had to swerve and pull in to get out of her way.
“I think some cars were damaged as they tried to get out of her way too, something needs to be done about the driver.
“I understand she might be unwell and that’s made her confused, but I’m a Class 1 driver and I have to have a medical every year. I’m not having a go at old people, but I think there should be tests to make sure they are capable of driving properly, think of how many accidents have been caused by the elderly.”
On social media, witnesses involved shared their experience with the oblivious driver.
Andrea Wann wrote: “Folks, we witnessed this and lucky Leonard did move into the other lane as my family and I would probably have been wiped out by his truck. I followed and this was an old lady who was very disoriented and yes the police have the information. Accident by all means but not a deliberate act.”
Arlene Campbell commented: “Someone was looking for this information as the car hit her near Raith and badly damaged her car.”
Beth Cochran added: “He nearly hit my daughters car with her four-month-old daughter in the car.”
Others were gobsmacked by the clip.
Callan Anderson wrote: “Look at this crackpot earlier today.”
Sammy Gillan added: “F* sake Lenny. Don’t even want to think the carnage that could have caused if you hadn’t switched lanes. Did you buy a lottery ticket for that night?”
Kathleen Roy commented: “How is that even possible it must have been deliberate? Thinking of all the junctions you come off of none of them are easily confused as an on ramp in that direction.”
