This was the dramatic scene after a suspected drink-driver obliterated a car by ploughing into a tree in south London.
Police said the driver, a 21-year-old man, was "lucky to be alive" after being pulled from the mangled wreckage of his vehicle following the crash in Orchard Avenue, Croydon, at about 10.30pm on Tuesday.
Firefighters freed the man from the car, which also struck a fence and a telegraph pole during the smash, police said.
He was taken to a south London hospital with a head injury by London Ambulance Service paramedics.
Croydon officers tweeted a picture of the wreckage, captioned: "Nasty Accident in #Shirley. Car hit a tree at speed. Driver lucky to be alive, arrested for drink drive #CroydonCops."
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "A 21-year-old male driver was taken to a south London hospital suffering from a head injury.
"He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving and bailed until July 4."
Police said no-one else was travelling in the car at the time of the crash.
