A MOUNT Gambier man and his close friend are just “happy to be alive” after being involved in a serious crash when a bull walked out in front of the car they were travelling in.
At around 6.20pm on Sunday evening, 19-year-old Aden Pfitzner was driving his blue Holden Commodore along Riddoch Highway just north of Allendale East.
“I had just entered the 110kph zone on the Mount Gambier side of Allendale when a passing car flashed their headlights at my vehicle,” Mr Pfiztner said.
“My first thought was that my high beams must have been on, so I was checking that and within 10 seconds or less I crashed into the bull in the middle of the road.”
With his low beams on, Mr Pfitzner said the bull “popped up out of nowhere”.
“It all happened so quick, before I knew it the bull was rolling over the top of the car,” he said.
While Mr Pfitzner was conscious for the whole event, he looked over to notice his 19-year-old best friend Mitch Kipping unconscious in the passenger seat.
“Mitch doesn’t remember a single thing, he was out like a light,” he said.
“I noticed the engine was on fire and quickly ran around to the passenger side, but it took a while to free him because his seatbelt was jammed.
“It was a pretty scary experience.”
Mr Pfitzner said he would have never been able to forgive himself if something serious happened to his mate.
“I’m just happy we survived and were able to escape with a few scratches and bruises,” he said.
“A few people have told me to go buy a lotto ticket, but I think I used up all my luck in that one.”
As for the bull, it had to be put down following the crash.
The farmer who owned the bull was at the scene of the accident to retrieve the carcass on Sunday.
“I am just glad I was the one that hit it and it wasn’t a family with young children,” Mr Pfitzner said.
Port MacDonnell Police Brevet Sergeant Samuel Pearson said he would contact the council about the crash.
“I am normally in touch with the council about cattle on the roads, so when I get a chance I will speak to them about the incident,” Sgt Samuel Pearson said.
Sgt Pearson said he would also make a suggestion to have the speed limit changed.
“I think it should be looked at changing the speed limit of the road to Port MacDonnell from 110kph to 80kph,” Sgt Pearson said.
