Video: Car flies 50 metres through the air, crashes into basketball court

A speeding Mercedes-Benz hatchback has crashed in spectacular fashion in Belgium, launching through a roundabout and flying through the wall of a basketball sports centre.

The accident, captured on CCTV, occurred just after a practice session had finished, and the players were in the changing room.

The crash caused significant structural damage to the building after impacting the top section of the gym wall.

According to Google Maps, the distance from the roundabout to the gymnasium is approximately 50 metres, almost twice the length of a basketball court. Excessive speed was clearly a factor in the crash.

Photos shared on social media platform Twitter show extensive damage to both the car and the sports centre – and illustrate the distance between the roundabout and the building wall.

The driver, identified as a local soccer player, survived and was taken to hospital, while no one in the gym was injured.

Overseas media reports note the driver is expected to make a full recovery.