A DRIVER had a lucky escape after his car ended up on its roof.

Joe Ecclestone, aged 27, was driving along Birchfield Road in Widnes in last week’s high winds when a bin bag blew across his windscreen.

He hit the brakes but his Ford Focus skidded across the road, hit a bollard and somersaulted onto the pavement.

Miraculously, he managed to smash a window and scramble out unhurt.

Tree surgeon Joe, of Cornforth Way, said: “Ambulance staff were jaw-dropped.

“People who came to help couldn’t believe I had been in the car.

“I didn’t have a scratch.”

The accident happened at 11pm on Tuesday, October 21, near Widnes North Station when Mr Ecclestone was on his way home.

He said: “As I started going over the bridge, there was a gust of wind.

“It blew a bin bag across my windscreen. I tapped the brake. I didn’t press it hard but the brakes locked and the car slid diagonally across the wet road.

“It jolted at an angle and veered over to the opposite side of the road.

“It was like I was on ice. I hit the barriers and it flipped over on its side and landed on the roof.

“It all happened in seconds.

“I wasn’t going fast, only at 30mph.”

When smoke started coming into the car, he realised he had to get out.

He added: “I punched my way out of the passenger side window and crawled out of the car.

“I was glad there were no other cars approaching.”

He was taken to Whiston Hospital to be checked.

Cheshire Police have confirmed that he was arrested at the scene of the collision and has been summoned to appear in court for failing to provide a blood sample.