This is the bizarre moment a lorry crane used to make utility repairs crashed into an entry gate in the middle of the street causing its heavy metal awning to fall directly onto the driver's cabin.

Surveillance camera footage shows the lorry driving along the road in the city of Zhoukou in Henan, China, before its arm hit the gate on January 10.

But just seconds later the gate's metal awning detached from the structure and fell straight onto the driver compartment causing chaos among the puzzled passers-by.

During the incident, a black Mercedes-Benz vehicle can be seen narrowly escaping being struck by the cover and continuing its way forwards.

Chinese media revealed that the lorry driver suffered minor injuries.