A driver narrowly escaped death after an axe flew off the back of the truck and landed just inches in front of him on the dashboard.

The shocking image recently surfaced online after it was released by Massachusetts State Police and clearly shows what a close call this was as the axe lies just inches from the driver and passenger seat.

The axe fell off the back of a truck belonging to a landscaper, who failed to secure his tools properly causing it to slip out and the crash into the car driving behind him. 

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Describing the incident on their Facebook page, police said the fact the car driver was sticking to the speed limit probably saved their lives.

"If he had been speeding, the increased velocity of his car would have increased the power of the axe's impact, meaning it could very well have gone through the glass and injured his passenger. Please remember those lessons. We are very thankful that this situation did not have a worse ending," said the Police.

The landscaper was fined for failing to secure cargo.