Dashcam footage from a taxi fleet driver has captured the moment a 75mph police chase with an uninsured, unlicenced driver ended.
The 17-year-old's Toyota RAV4's spins in the air is sent hurtling towards the Vauxhall Astra taxi 'like a missile.'
The Astra was virtually written off in the collision but the footage from the camera was so clear that he was not even required to give a statement to police.
The video was used in evidence at Liverpool Crown Court this month where teenager Sean Grindle admitted dangerous driving and driving without a licence and without insurance.
Judge Neil Flewitt, QC, said it was 'a miracle' that no one was killed but decided not to jail Grindle, now aged 18, because it was his first offence.
VisionTrack managing director Simon Marsh said: "You can clearly see on the footage that the RAV4 spins into the air, demolishes a bollard and then collides head-on with the taxi which was nearly a write-off.
"The RAV4 ends up on the bonnet of his car, jolting the driver and his passenger backwards, before coming to a rest partially on its side. More and more taxi and chauffeur fleets are installing VisionTrack dashcams now to avoid lengthy insurance disputes.
"In this case, the specialist taxi insurance broker Patons recommended that the taxi fleet invest in a VT2000 and they are glad they did now. Patons have been quick to utilise the latest technology to improve their policies.
"All the footage on VisionTrack cameras is court admissible. The video in this case clearly showed how the taxi driver had a very lucky escape. It enabled his insurers to sort out the case quickly without any impact on the fleets claims' experience."
The court heard police officers spotted the Toyota in Seaforth, Liverpool, at around 1.10am on June 18 last year. Trying to avoid capture, Grindle overtook another car, drove the wrong way down a one way street and crossed a give-way junction without slowing.
His luck ran out when he shot through another set of red lights at 75mph and struck both taxis.
Grindle, who was working in a garage, had bought the Toyota and was preparing to take his test when he panicked after police asked him to pull over.
He was given 10 months in a young offenders' institution, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for two years.
Insurance, more than a fine, I don't bother - 01/02/2017 12:21
It's only pure luck and the safety of modern cars that nobody was injured or killed. Why wasn't the driver jailed? It wasn't a first offence, driving without a licence is premeditated, and one offence, driving without insurance is another offence, dangerous driving is yet another offence, so that's 3 offences. Plus other motorists who are effectively underwriting these criminals by paying extra for their own insurance are being penalised every year. He needs a custodial sentence as a deterrent to others as much as a punishment. Let's face it insurance for a 17 year old in a Rav 4 would probably be more than his fine, so there needs to be a greater deterrent than just a financial penalty.