A police officer narrowly survived after a driver was caught on camera smashing into his car - missing him by inches.

The officer was exiting the vehicle during a traffic stop when the white Kia smashed into his open door.

Body camera footage shows the moment of the collision, in which the door is almost completely taken off.

The Kia avoided a more serious collision with the St Petersburg, Florida, USA officer by inches but he was left with an injured hand.

He can be seen cradling his hand and is heard on the radio saying: "I had a really close call, I need to be checked out."

He was on the side of the I-375 on January 6th, near 5th Avenue North on-ramp in St Petersburg with emergency lights on.

The driver of the Kia, Mackenzie Paige Deaton, 24, fled after the accident but was apprehended soon after.

She has since been charged with serious bodily injury hit and run, tampering with evidence and citations.

The officer was treated for his injuries at the nearby Bayfront Health Hospital.

The St Petersburg Police Department said: "As he was getting out of the police vehicle, a white Kia sedan struck the police vehicle, causing minor injury to the officer.

"He was transported to Bayfront Health and will be okay. No one else was injured.

"It [the body camera footage] illustrates the importance of moving over when there is an emergency vehicle or disabled car on the side of the road.

"Luckily, this officer was not severely injured."