Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor:  Alex Cope, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment a lorry whose driver has allegedly fallen asleep behind the wheel rear-ends a heavy goods vehicle before exploding into a giant fireball.

The dramatic accident happened on the streets of Deyang in China’s south-western province of Sichuan at 5:55am local time on 14th August.

CCTV images show the vehicle driven by Mr Li following a larger articulated lorry but failing to slow down as the front vehicle stops at a red light at the junction between Muhe Road and the city’s 1st Ring Road.

Mr Li slams into the back of the heavy goods vehicle, and a few seconds later his lorry erupts into a ball of flames as the engine catches fire.

He and his co-driver, Mr Ma, ‘cheat death’ and manage to escape the fireball, reports said, with the video showing him being dragged away from the flaming wreckage in time. The person dragging him from the flames has not been identified in reports.

Deyang traffic policeman Zhou Daigang said Mr Li would be held liable for the crash, adding that the driver likely rear-ended the lorry due to fatigue.

Mr Li, who said he was transporting a shipment of metal pipes, reportedly told police he was too tired and dozed off at the wheel before the crash.

He and Mr Ma had driven for 30 consecutive hours since 12th August until their crash in the early morning of 14th August.

Investigations are ongoing.

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