A SPORTS car driver walked away from an accident involving a bin wagon in which his car was written off.

The 33-year-old man was driving a convertible Lotus Elise in Yarm, near Stockton, when the accident, involving the lorry travelling in the opposite direction, happened at about 8.20am yesterday.

The driver suffered ruptured tendons in his right shoulder, cuts and bruises and whiplash and was taken to hospital.

Witness Paul Pearson said: “Just before the roundabout at Conyers School the lorry suddenly veered right and smashed into a Lotus sports car coming the other way.

“It looked like the lorry then clipped a bus shelter and carried on across a grass verge before coming to rest.

“I got out to see if I could help, as did several other drivers who saw it happen. The young lad in the sports car was obviously in pain, but he managed to get out and walk over to sit down in the bus shelter. He had some cuts on his hand and face and was saying that his chest hurt.

“The driver of the lorry came over and was saying that his steering had suddenly gone. There was also a man who had been sitting in the bus shelter who looked quite shaken. It must have just missed him.”

The driver and passenger in the bin wagon were unhurt.

Witnesses have been asked to call police on 01642-326326.