Narrow escape after bridge swipe

THE driver of a car which side-swiped a bridge pylon near Berwick was lucky to escape serious injuries, paramedics said.
About 9am on Tuesday, paramedics were called to the scene near Soldiers Road.
Intensive care paramedic David Kervin said the driver, aged 20, was in the car when crews arrived.
“The man told us that he crashed through the wire rope barrier before side-swiping the bridge pylon where the car came to rest,” Mr Kervin said.
“Thankfully, the man was wearing a seatbelt, but he was trapped by damage done to the car. A paramedic climbed into the back seat of the wreck and calmed the man who was understandably distressed.”
Mr Kervin said the man was fitted with a neck brace and given pain relief.
Mr Kervin said it took about an hour for rescue crews to cut the roof off the car and carefully lift the man out of the car.
“He was in severe pain when we arrived, and it was a delicate operation that took about an hour to free him,” Mr Kervin said.
“He’s incredibly lucky not to have suffered more serious injuries.”
The man was taken to Dandenong Hospital in a stable condition.