A man is lucky to be alive after a 10kg steel towbar flew off a ute in front of him and smashed into his car’s windscreen.
The shocking incident happened on the South Eastern Freeway in South Australia last Thursday.
Dashcam been shared to the dashcam Owners Australia Facebook page shows the tow bar bouncing off the road before flying through the air and making impact with the windscreen.
Incredibly, no one was hurt in the truly terrifying sequence of events.
Michael Allison, who was behind the wheel of the trailing car, said everything happened in the blink of an eye.
“It happened at such speed and the impact was, wow, massive really,” he told the media. “It came right the way through, hit the back seat, then bounced back through onto the centre console and ended up resting at the bottom of my feet on the driver’s side.”
Mr Allison said he was covered in glass, but was able to quickly pull over.
He later told Channel Nine News that, after the ordeal. he ‘bought a lottery ticket and maybe had a large whiskey, as well’.
The frightening footage sparked heated online discussion about the use of towbars in Australia. Currently, laws across the country do not state that tow hitches need to be removed when not towing.
The windscreen was shattered in the terrifying incident. PIC: 9News
Towing experts told Drive publication that the incident was a timely reminder to owners of vehicles with towbars to make sure they check the assembly is properly secured and has not been tampered with before each journey.
It was not initially clear if the Toyota HiLux driver with the missing towbar hitch was aware of the incident that unfolded behind him.
Drive reports that it is also still to be determined how the towbar hitch (or neck) – with towball attached – became separated from the vehicle’s main towbar assembly. It says one possible explanation is that the locating bolt – that slots through the towbar neck and receiver, locking it into position – may have lost its securing pin. The publication says this could have happened if the owner of the Ute didn’t secure it correctly, or it could have been the result of foul play.
When I’m not towing I take the tow bar out. When towing, every time I stop at a roadhouse or in a town I check to make sure someone hasn’t taken the pin out. Years ago, someone told me that it happened to them and fortunately they noticed before they drove off. I carry a spare pin as well.
And yes, I know you can buy locking devices.
Rob you are a wise old owl in having all bases covered…no one is going to hit a home run on you…unless you are like me, often forget what I was doing! LOL
Simple solution is get a locked pin I have 2 one on the Hitch and one on my Towbar
Its not a towbar its the Goose neck. The towbar is mounted to the chassis of the tow vehicle. Still dangerous but as usual the Media have got it wrong again.
I agree that terminology is wrong but perhaps they were pitching it to the wider public’s understanding of terms ….then maybe knot…or is that not!
I think most people would associate it as a Towbar, however you’re correct, it’s the gooseneck which hit the windscreen, I really think that the manufacturer has an issue with manufacturing a product that isn’t completely secure, it’s so easy for anyone to act in a malicious manner and cause serious injury or even death.
Years ago a group of pranksters (for want of a better name) in a NSW town were removing the pin from attached vans and watching the result when the towbar plus aframe hit the road
Yes it happens a lot at Bermaguie boat ramp
Them darn fish will do anything to avoid being caught! LOL
I had that happen to me at Goulburn when towing a van … pin was removed overnight
I have a locked pin on my goose neck impossible to remove
I use a locking pin which needs a key to unlock
Me too, Roger S
I use a locking pin, saves issues with idiots…
That is very wily of you Wylie …but it just concerns me that my fumbly fingers might not fully engage the lock and then I may lose the lot, caravan included. So that’s why I prefer Lock + R-Clip ….cheers
I only leave the drop shank attached whilst towing and always check it at stops along the way.
How is mine a FAIL SAFE HITCH PIN?
Because it has 1) a keyed lock and 2) an R-Clip (these are available for less than $30).
This acts as a deterrent to tampering or theft and offers fail safe operations whilst enroute.
Whilst I don’t anticipate a problem, I always carry a spare Hitch Pin and R-Clip.
https://www.roadtechmarine.com.au/hitch-pin-lock/p/TTG505
Max that’s a great suggestion I also have 2 locked pins on my setup one on my gooseneck and one on my hitch, unfortunately the one you showed wouldn’t fit my gooseneck so I purchased one from supercheap it’s less bulky then the one in your link and fits easier, they are about $45 $https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/hayman-reese-hayman-reese-hitch-pin-lockable-straight/343489.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0PWRxbT79QIVmH0rCh1ACQAGEAQYBSABEgITbPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I have my tow ball goose neck assembly padlocked onto the towbar assembly. I enlarge the hole for the R pin on the locking pin by drilling it just big enough for a padlock. It always worried me that someone may just try to knock off the R clip or pin to replace their own.
Joseph…you are on the ball, tow ball that is! Like your idea.
I take the tow bar off when not towing. I tow a big van. I check the tow bar every time I’m about to move off. I change the pin once a year or when I see wear on the pin.
Peace of mind. Besides my wife won’t let me forget. She took a Tow-Ed course too.
Lawrence that is a good practise…..to change the pin yearly. Much like me with my underwear but weekly, whether needed or not!
I use a locking pin and take the goose neck out when not towing and when camped up.
It’s the new fad steal the pin use a locking pin
Just concerns me that my fumbly fingers might not fully engage the lock and then I may lose the lot, caravan included. So that’s why I prefer Lock + R-Clip ….cheers
I have a lockable tow pin on my tow bar
Get a locking one
I went to change the tow bar one day and found that someone had stolen the pin. The bolt prevented them from removing the bar and tow ball. I have a MacHitch for the camper trailer and have a bar for the macHitch and another for the low ball.
Instead of the split pin preventing the pin being removed use a padlock you will probably drill the hole in the pin to accommodate the padlock
Mine is locked on. I was warned at a towing course that people do wicked things, especially with the hitch, so I check too. Luckily, as just yesterday my camper leg on my camper trailer was down when I came back from a cafe. I had checked it on departure and am certain it wasn’t down while driving. Suspect a rotten person tampered with it ! Thankfully I noticed as it would have been sheared off…
Thank the Lord that no one was injured.
I would find it very inconvenient if I had to take off the tow ball every time I stopped at a caravan park and wanted to do some touring.
I have a lock on my pin so as no one can take the pin out , someone told me kids this in country towns so hence the lock.
I have never checked it. BUT I WILL NOW
Right Wright!!
Had my towball hitch with towball stolen while parked in front of a post office. The new one is now secured with lock & key. This would also guarantee it can’t fly off.
I once found the clip had been removed from my pin when i was re attaching my van. it was in a caravan park, could have been disastrous
About 20 years ago in South Africa a car passed my VW Kombi and I noticed that it had a very loose exhaust pipe. Fortunately, there was no oncoming traffic and I pulled onto the right-hand side of the road . Seconds later the whole exhaust pipe sailed past us at windscreen height. We had escaped a potential tragedy.
The piece of equipment pictured is NOT a gooseneck.It is a shank,and an ALUMINIUM one at that.Weighs 10kg? Tell ’em they’rey dreaming.Cheers