Doncaster driver cheats death after 10kg tow bar smashes through car windscreen

A Doncaster motorist cheated death after a 10kg tow bar smashed through his windscreen as he drove along - leaving him with a horrific gaping wound in his skull.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Jonathan Loates, 30, was travelling along a 40mph stretch of road when the large piece of metal fell off another vehicle, burst through his window and sliced open his head.

Incredibly, the recruitment consultant managed to pull over his BMW to the side of the road before collapsing to the ground on A619 near Worksop.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Another driver pulled over to help and put some clothing over the wound before ringing for an ambulance and staying with him until it arrived.

Jonathan Loates suffered serious head injuries after his BMW was speared by a tow bar.Jonathan Loates suffered serious head injuries after his BMW was speared by a tow bar.
Jonathan Loates suffered serious head injuries after his BMW was speared by a tow bar.

Jonathan was rushed to hospital where he required more than 100 stitches following the shocking incident, which happened at around 5.15pm on January 9.

Police say Jonathan is "lucky to be alive" and that his instinctive reaction to duck is what saved him from being decapitated.

Jonathan, who is now recovering at home in Blyth, said: "As I got to the brow of the hill I saw something in the road - I thought it was a bit of wood or some rubbish.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I went to go round it to the left and the next thing I know there was a massive bang. I can't really remember what happened after that.

Jonathan suffered horrific head injuries in the smash.Jonathan suffered horrific head injuries in the smash.
Jonathan suffered horrific head injuries in the smash.

"I don't know if it knocked me out or I blacked out but the next thing I remember was getting out with my head pouring with blood.

"I'm lucky it didn't hit me straight in the head because it would have taken my head off. The scar is going to be visible for the rest of my life."

He was initially taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary following the collision but was later transferred to a specialist head injury unit in Rotherham.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jonathan had been driving on the A619 Chesterfield Road, between Darfoulds nursery and before the island heading towards Worksop (A60) and officers are urging anyone with footage to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 642 of January 9, 2020.