Driver saved from being impaled

By Shaun Inguanzo
FIRE officers believe intrusion bars on a car’s door saved a man from being impaled by a pole after his vehicle hit a railway crossing in Noble Park on the weekend.
The Ford sedan was travelling through the Corrigan Road level crossing in Noble Park on Saturday about 9.50am when it slammed into the railway pedestrian crossing fencing.
Dandenong Country Fire Authority officers said the car was clear of the railway line and no delays were encountered and the man did not require hospitalisation.
Dandenong CFA photographer Keith Pakenham said: “The male occupant of the car was not trapped as was initially reported and was examined on-scene by paramedics but was not transported.
“The car was wedged on top of flattened poles and as a result a quick-cut saw was used to remove them to prevent further damage to the car’s under-carriage.”
Mr Pakenham said the driver was lucky to have not been impaled after fire officers discovered the car’s safety features had prevented a pole from penetrating through the driver’s side door.
“It appeared the side intrusion bars in the Ford car door did their job well and prevented what could have been a nasty rescue job with an impaled victim,” he said.