Horrific moment a Lithuanian lorry driver smashes into the back of a car causing the front to disintegrate completely with the motorist's legs left hanging through the windscreen 

  • Dramatic footage shows lorry driver smashing into back of a car in traffic
  • Lithuanian Vygantas Stanulis, 55, ploughed his lorry into black Ford Fiesta
  • Driver, man in his 20s, left with his legs hanging out of the front of the car
  • He suffered serious injuries and is still undergoing surgery after the ordeal
  • Stanulis now jailed for 12 months after admitting dangerous driving charge

This is the horrific moment a reckless Lithuanian lorry driver smashed into the back of a stationary car sending its motorist feet first through the windscreen.

Vygantas Stanulis, 55, claimed to have suffered a 'momentary lapse of concentration' when he ploughed his articulated lorry into a line of cars near Kent.

His vehicle, fully laden with steel, collided with a black Ford Fiesta which in turn hit a Iveco flatbed lorry carrying wooden pallets, during the crash on the coast-bound carriageway of the A2 at Harbledown, near Canterbury, at rush-hour on January 19.

Dramatic dashcam footage shows the driver of the Fiesta being thrown through the windscreen of his vehicle upon impact, with his legs seen hanging out of the car. 

He suffered serious injuries in the crash despite the face he was wearing a seatbelt. 

Stanulis has now been jailed for a year after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving after he appeared at the Old Bailey, central London, on Monday. 

Lithuanian lorry driver Vygantas Stanulis, 55, has been jailed for a year following the horrific incident which saw him career into the back of a Ford Fiesta stuck in traffic on the A2 near Kent

Lithuanian lorry driver Vygantas Stanulis, 55, has been jailed for a year following the horrific incident which saw him career into the back of a Ford Fiesta stuck in traffic on the A2 near Kent

The driver of the Fiesta, a man in his 20s (legs pictured), suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae, a fractured ankle, knee and shin and facial injuries

The driver of the Fiesta, a man in his 20s (legs pictured), suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae, a fractured ankle, knee and shin and facial injuries

The court heard how the driver of the Fiesta, a man in his 20s who has not been named, suffered serious injuries in the horror crash including a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae, a fractured ankle, knee and shin bone and facial injuries. 

He is still undergoing surgery following the terrifying ordeal.

Stanulis had originally denied the dangerous driving charge but changed his plea to guilty on Monday, the day his trial had been due to start.

Stanulis had denied the dangerous driving charge but changed his plea  on Monday

Stanulis had denied the dangerous driving charge but changed his plea on Monday

Police Constable Celia Weller, of Kent Police, who investigated the case, said visibility had been clear on the morning of the collision and the roads were not icy.

She said: 'A dash camera in the Mercedes lorry showed that Stanulis was driving at around 50mph just before the collision.'

Witnesses said the lorry did not slow down as it approached the line of traffic. 

Stanulis only attempted to brake about half a second before colliding with the Fiesta.

Police Constable Weller said: 'Stanulis told us he had taken his eyes off the road for a second to look at two lorries parked in a layby. He described it as a momentary lapse in concentration.'

She said the lorry driver had shown remorse for the victim throughout the police investigation.

Stanulis' vehicle, fully laden with steel, collided with a black Ford Fiesta which in turn hit a Iveco flatbed lorry carrying wooden pallets (pictured), during the crash on the coast-bound carriageway of the A2 at Harbledown, near Canterbury, Kent at rush-hour on January 19

Stanulis' vehicle, fully laden with steel, collided with a black Ford Fiesta which in turn hit a Iveco flatbed lorry carrying wooden pallets (pictured), during the crash on the coast-bound carriageway of the A2 at Harbledown, near Canterbury, Kent at rush-hour on January 19

The court heard how the driver of the Fiesta, a man in his 20s who has not been named, suffered serious injuries in the horror crash including a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae, a fractured ankle, knee and shin bone and facial injuries. Pictured: His legs, right

The court heard how the driver of the Fiesta, a man in his 20s who has not been named, suffered serious injuries in the horror crash including a fractured skull, two fractured vertebrae, a fractured ankle, knee and shin bone and facial injuries. Pictured: His legs, right

Stanulis only attempted to brake about half a second before colliding with the Fiesta (above)

Stanulis only attempted to brake about half a second before colliding with the Fiesta (above)

She said: 'Stanulis didn't set out that morning to cause harm and he is still coming to terms with what happened.

'The victim still faces operations on his face and knee and will live with the consequences of this collision for a long time.

'It just goes to show that any lapse in concentration when driving can have devastating consequences.' 

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now