Mitsubishi 380 driver lucky to be alive after horror smash

Police in South Australia have shared images of a mangled Mitsubishi 380 involved in a horrific collision, which the driver was able to survive with only minor injuries.

Per the South Australia Police page on Facebook, officers responded to a collision at Chandlers Hill shortly after 7:00am on Tuesday, August 11.

Fire crews and SA Ambulance also attended the crash site to extricate a 21-year-old Seaford Heights man from the wreckage of the Mitsubishi 380.

Fortunately, he was the only occupant of the vehicle, and he was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries only.

It’s unclear if wet weather was a factor, and South Australia Police hasn’t confirmed what speed the vehicle was travelling at.

The side of the 380 impacted with the tree, bending the Mitsubishi so much it almost resembles a keyhole. A close-up shot of the front-passenger side of the interior is a sobering reminder of how this crash would have likely been fatal for an occupant on this side of the cabin.

The force of the crash also saw the impacted tree fall down, blocking the road and forcing its closure for several hours.

South Australia Police says it’s continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.

The 380 received a four-star rating from independent safety authority ANCAP in 2005, beating its Magna predecessor's three-star score. It received a side impact score of 15.69 out of 16.

Production of the 380, Mitsubishi's last Australian-built vehicle, ended in 2008.