A TAXI driver was cut from the wreckage of his people carrier after it was hit head-on by a suspected drink driver.
Sajid Butt, aged 34, says he is lucky to be alive following the accident, which happened in Deane Road, Deane, at around 2.05am on Saturday morning.
He had picked up four passengers in Bradshawgate and was on his way to drop them off in Blackrod when a car, travelling without its headlights on, crossed over on to his side of the road and smashed into the front of his car.
The driver of the Mitsubishi car tried to make off, but his vehicle was too badly damaged and he was arrested a short time later.
"He had no lights on and he came straight at me. It was so fast I had not time to put the brakes on," said Mr Butt, from Great Lever.
The next thing he knew, firefighters were cutting into his door to release him from the mangled wreck.
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His passengers - one boy and two girls, aged 18 - suffered minor injuries.
Mr Butt and the fourth passenger, a 17-year-old girl, were taken the Royal Bolton Hospital on spinal boards.
The crash scene
She suffered injuries to her leg and neck. They are not believed to be life threatening.
"I can't believe I am still alive," said Mr Butt. "We were very lucky. It was the car's airbag that saved my life. I am still in shock."
When police and fire crews were called to the scene of the smash, at the junction of Oriel Street, they had to close off the road for around two hours while investigations took place.
A police spokesman said: "Shortly after 2am on Saturday, we were called to Deane Road following reports of a road traffic collision.
"Police went to the scene and found a black Peugeot, which had been in collision with a blue Mitsubishi."
He added: "The Mitsubishi was found a short distance away from the scene and a 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. Five people suffered minor injuries in the incident. Police are continuing their inquiries."
Watch Commander Kevin O'Connor, from Bolton Central Fire Station, added: "We were at the scene for about an hour and had to cut the driver and the 17-year-old girl out of the car. The other passengers were out by the time we got there. There was a lot of damage."
Eye witness Ahmed Rawat, aged 22, of Deane Road, took pictures of the aftermath of the accident on his mobile phone.
He said: "We heard a lot of fire engines and ambulances going up the road and a load of taxi drivers were there too. A Hackney Carriage taxi had been pretty badly smashed up. By the time I got there the ambulance was just leaving and the police were looking in the road for evidence."
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