21-year-old man accidentally strikes friend at 60 MPH while showcasing new car

A 21-year-old was displaying his new car to a friend when a mishap occurred.

On February 28, the young man maneuvered around a sharp turn on a secluded country road near Edmundbyers, England, where his friend stood on the grass capturing photos, as per a press release and bodycam footage provided by the Durham Constabulary. 

He lost control, veered into the opposite lane, and struck his friend, who was knocked to the ground by the impact.

The 21-year-old subsequently crashed his vehicle into a stone wall. He managed to escape the car and called emergency services. 

According to police, he reported hitting his friend at 60 mph and colliding with a stone wall.

As shown in the bodycam footage, officers arrived on the spot, questioning the young man before evaluating the crashed car, where both front airbags had been deployed. Officers then checked on the friend receiving attention in the ambulance.

The Constabulary stated in the release that the friend narrowly avoided a tragic incident.

"Thanks to quick thinking and fortunate circumstances from the cameraman, what could easily have been a deadly crash was avoided by mere inches," they noted. "He sustained minimal injuries due to the fall, and the driver’s car suffered substantial damage after hitting the wall."

"Fortunately, there weren't any unsuspecting drivers in the opposing direction," added the Constabulary.

In the footage, the friend explained to law enforcement that he and the driver had radios to communicate and ensure the road was "clear."

"I was positioned on the corner … and he drove by, but I think he went a bit too fast," the friend recalled about the event.

The driver informed officers that he had a video of the incident on his phone, admitting he hadn't reviewed it yet because he was "too scared to look."

The Constabulary's footage included video of the accident, displaying the young driver's vehicle rushing around a curve and veering off the road before grazing his friend. An impact noise followed by a man shouting in pain was audible.

When the driver's parents arrived, officers reassured them that the son’s friend was "doing well, all things considered," and that the situation could have been "much worse."

Police then had the young man sit in the back of a cruiser as they continued their inquiries into the incident.

“I won’t sugarcoat this," an officer told him. "You could have killed your buddy.”

The officer questioned how long the young man had held his driving license, to which he answered, "Eight months."

He proceeded to narrate, in his words, what had transpired.

"I recently got a new car and thought I’d capture some photos. I made the turn, and I thought I was within the speed limit, I say think because I’m not really sure," he described. “I misjudged the corner, going too fast.”

The driver's mother was heard in the video commenting that the car was "just three days old," and adding, "It’s a total loss."

The young driver received a citation for dangerous driving and was advised by law enforcement to treat this incident as a lesson in driving with more caution and responsibility in the future.

The Constabulary also recommended in their announcement, "If you plan to photograph or video your car, do so in a safe and controlled environment."