Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

A terrified cabbie who had been beaten up by his passengers sent them flying when he crashed into them as they hurled rocks at his car as he was trying flee.

Astonishing CCTV footage of the collision shows a man and a woman by the kerbside picking up rocks.

But as they hurl them at the taxi’s windscreen, the driver suddenly seems to lose control and swerves into the pair.

Both are sent spinning through the air by the impact but reportedly fled on foot from the crash scene in Contagem, south-eastern Brazil, in the early hours of yesterday morning (Monday, 2nd February).

Police say the couple had ordered the taxi on an app from neighbouring Betim to a bar in downtown Contagem.

The 27-year-old taxi driver said the couple swore at him and threatened him to make him drive faster during the journey.

He was reportedly so worried, he changed course to look for a police patrol.

When the passengers noticed he had changed route, they demanded to know why and were furious when he told them the truth.

They reportedly attacked the cabbie, punching him until he demanded they leave the vehicle.

At first they refused, but the man got out, only to get back in again straight away – this time in the front seat of the Fiat Argo.

Then he reportedly assaulted the taxi driver again before the passengers left the car for good.

But as the driver made a U-turn to get away, he saw the passengers hefting rocks at his car, and the collision took place moments later.

The taxi driver was taken in by the police for questioning and his car was seized as part of the investigation, which is ongoing.