A SHAKEN former councillor has told how he and his wife had a miraculous escape from a terrifying vehicle crash in Gourock.

Ronnie Ahlfeld, 76, and his 74-year-old spouse Rose were rushed to hospital after a van ploughed into the side of their car in the town.

The incident at the channelised junction at Broombury Drive resulted in the elderly couple's car being rendered an insurance write-off.

Ronnie, who represented Gourock for 15 years as a councillor, told how the van hit their vehicle with such force that they were shunted onto the wrong side of the carriageway on Cardwell Road, leaving Rose trapped in their vehicle.

He said: "It happened so quickly, I thought, 'we've had it'.

"The car is a write-off. The bumper of the van is still embedded in the side of the car.

"We had simply been in town and were driving on the main road and this van was coming out of Broomberry Drive and didn't stop at the give way crossing.

"As soon as I turned round he was on us, he had hit us. I knew he was going to hit us but there was nothing I could do about it, I put my arm around Rose to try to pull her away from the door.

"We were shunted across onto the wrong side of the road opposite Eastern View high flats.

"I thought, 'this is bad'."

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Ronnie added: "It happened so quickly I didn't get time to think. I managed to steer the car back around, the brakes had gone, I thought how am I going to stop this?

"I thought we would end up over the wall.

"By some miracle I managed to hit the kerb. We were lucky, it could have been a lot worse."

The couple were conveyed to Inverclyde Royal and were examined by medics and taken for x-rays.

Ronnie said: "Later on when I had the chance to sit and reflect in hospital, I thought 'My God, someone is looking out for us'.

"It could have been much much worse."

His wife Rose took the main force of the impact and was trapped in the car as the door had take the impact.

Ronnie said: "I was in absolute agony, I was feeling really bad. I collapsed a bit once I had managed to open the other doors and help Rose get out, as soon as I knew she was safe."

Rose managed to contact the family and their son Ross took them to hospital.

The couple are both badly bruised and have to return to hospital for a check up next week.

Ronnie said: "It was a blessing the school was out at that time and nobody was on the pavement.

"We are grateful to Mr Dobbin who called police and ambulance and also the other motorists who stopped, in particular the young lady who was visiting her mum in Eastern View and came down with blankets.

"We are very grateful for all messages of support."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 4.10pm on Thursday, 11 January, police were called to a report of a road crash that had taken place a short time earlier on Cardwell Road at Larkfield Road and officers attended.”