Motorist 'Plays Dead' In Middle Of Road

A driver stranded on a remote stretch of Australian highway tried to summon help by playing dead in the middle of the road.

A woman who was driving with her two children spotted the man and had to swerve to avoid hitting him.

"She drove around the body � which didn't move at all � and got to the nearest phone", detective Doug Backhouse with the state police said. After which local police arrived with an ambulance and found the man alive and well, but with car troubles.

"The best way he thought to get a vehicle to stop was to lay down in the middle of the road and pretend to be dead", Backhouse said, adding that the man didn't think anyone would stop if he were standing up.

Police said they told the man that lying in the road was "a stupid thing to do", but didn't charge him with any offense.

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