A quick search on YouTube will prove to you that there is no shortage of freak accidents caught on camera. However, this latest clip involving a driver in a 2021 Toyota RAV4 is truly baffling. That’s because it involves a semi-truck tire, a highway, and several flips in a matter of seconds. Despite shooting into the sky, the crossover managed to keep its driver safe, walking away with minor injuries.

This latest video was posted by MrWolf on YouTube and covered by TheDrive. Since this accident is a bit strange, to say the least, we’ll break down exactly how it happened.

How does a tire flip over a Toyota RAV4?

Since another driver on the same highway filmed the video embedded above, we get a close look at exactly what happened during this unfortunate crash. In the first few frames, we see a semi-truck speeding by. It is unclear if the tire was already on the highway or if this specific truck lost one of its rear tires. However, since the other driver was already filming, chances are the tire was there, and the semi-truck was just avoiding it.

However, this is where the 2021 Toyota RAV4 comes in, following the semi-truck relatively closely. Despite trying to hit the brakes, the crossover hits the tire head-on and shoots into the sky. The tire manages to get under the crossover’s front and rear axles, given the Toyota’s speed and height. As a result, it has nowhere to go but up.

From there, it crashes back down to Earth before flipping two times. Once the crossover comes to a complete stop, its roof is clearly damaged. However, thanks to this crossover’s overall safety advancements, the driver can walk away, says TheDrive.

Could this unusual crash be avoided?

While this Toyota RAV4 happened quite quickly, it was certainly avoidable. The first thing that stands out from the video is how closely the crossover follows the semi-truck. If the truck was avoiding a tire that was already stationary, a reasonable following distance would’ve given the Toyota driver enough time to react. However, even as the driver slams on the brakes, there isn’t enough time to come to a complete stop.

What also contributed to this crash’s severity is the RAV4 itself. Since it’s a crossover that has a higher ride height, it gave more room for the tire to go under and lift it up. Had it been a sedan, we likely would’ve seen a much milder accident since the tire wouldn’t have had as much room to go underneath. Regardless of the circumstances, the crossover’s safety allowed its driver to walk away without major injuries.

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 safe?

Since the driver of the Toyota RAV4 was able to walk away from a fairly serious accident, it won’t surprise you to learn that this is a fairly safe crossover. In fact, the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick for the 2021 model year. This means that the Japanese crossover managed to ace all major categories, particularly the roof strength, as you saw above.

The same goes for previous model years as well. That’s because the RAV4 has been a Top Safety Pick for over five years at this point. However, the most important part is that you also get excellent safety tech on board to help you avoid a crash in the first place.