Abbott's car narrowly avoids disaster

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott learned firsthand just how dangerous country
roads can be when a semi-trailer narrowly missed ramming his official car.
Mr Abbott said he realised how close disaster can be on single-lane country roads on
Wednesday while meeting local Liberal candidate Sarah Henderson to discuss widening
the notorious stretch of the Princes Highway southwest of Melbourne.
As he arrived to meet Ms Henderson on the side of the highway two kilometres west of
Winchelsea, Mr Abbott's official car stopped to turn right.
A mini-bus travelling behind slowed and veered into the path of a fully laden
semi-trailer.
The truck driver slammed on his brakes, screeching to a halt, leaning perilously on
a road bank on his left-hand side.
He somehow managed to keep the truck upright and - as smoke and dust clouds plumed
into the air - just avoided Mr Abbott's car.
Ms Henderson screamed in fright as she watched from the side of the highway, no
doubt fearing, momentarily, for the lives of her party leader and all the others
involved.
The mini-bus continued on down the highway, while the semi-trailer driver, jumped
out of his cabin, calling out "I'm alright".
He then checked his load before climbing back into the cabin and continuing his
journey west.
For Ms Henderson, it was an unwanted demonstration of just what she had brought her
leader out to see - how dangerous the stretch of highway was and why funding was
needed to widen it to four lanes.
"I was probably a bit lucky in that I only saw it (the near-crash) after it had kind
of finished," Mr Abbott said.
"I've got to say that the driver did a great job in keeping his vehicle upright in
that situation.
"I'm just very pleased and relieved that no one was hurt because it could have been
a very nasty situation.
"We look at these two-lane country highways and we feel secure on them, but you are
only ever a moment away from disaster."
Truck driver Luke McRae told the Nine Network he had little chance of avoiding a crash.
"I realised the car was down the road with the indicators on. I've had a quick look
and realised the only place I had to go was around the bus," he said.
"I'm just glad that he's OK, and the people in the bus are OK, and I'm OK."