MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Merced CHP said a crash late Friday night could have been fatal after a guardrail pierced straight through a driver’s car.

Officers said that night they responded to a report of a crash on a highway in Merced County after a driver fell asleep behind the wheel.

CHP said the driver had drifted off the roadway and collided with a guardrail. Photos provided by the agency show the guardrail pierced directly through the front passenger side.

Officers said, fortunately, the driver was alone that night, but added that the collision would have been fatal had anyone sat next to them. No serious injuries were reported as a result.

CHP advises drivers to pull over if they feel drowsy, to pull over, as driving while sleepy is just as dangerous as driving under the influence.