A LORRY driver has been rescued from his overturned vehicle by passing drivers who stopped to wrench his windscreen free.

Michael Welch, 42, was leaving Ferndown along the A31 at around 1pm yesterday when his DAF heavy articulated truck fell onto its side, partially blocking the Palmersford roundabout for several hours.

Father-of-five Mr Welch told the Daily Echo he was lucky to step away from the crash unhurt.

Mr Welch, who was helped by a group of around five drivers, said: “The driver behind me said he saw the lorry go sideways, but I just felt it going over.

“It was horrible, it was slow motion when it went over.

“I was trapped inside until other drivers pulled the windscreen out.

“I haven’t got a scratch on me.”

Mr Welch, who was heading for Southampton with a load of waste paper, said it was his first road accident in more than 22 years of driving.

The lorry was righted at around 4.20pm. Long queues backed up along the A31 eastbound from Wimborne and the roundabout was closed for around an hour.

Douglas Brown, a St Leonards caravan park resident, said: “There was a big bang as it went over.

“The traffic has been hectic.”