Dash-cam footage shows the terrifying moment parents are almost killed in a freak car accident just weeks after their after five-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer

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A couple have miraculously walked away from a horrific car accident captured on dash-cam just weeks after their five-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer.

Regan and Rachel Cunliffe were heading home to Kaukapakapa from a medical appointment in Helensville, north-west of Auckland, when an oncoming truck lost control of its trailer on the State Highway 16. 

Video footage shows the couple approach the bend in the road as smoke billowed from the back wheels of the heavy cargo. 

Mr Cunliffe, who was behind the wheel, told Daily Mail Australia he drives the road 'all the time' and usually travels along the corner twice a day.

Pictured: Regan and Rachel Cunliffe with their four children. The parents were in a car accident weeks after their five-year-old son Theo was diagnosed with cancer

They were heading home to Kaukapakapa from a medical appointment in Helensville, north-west of Auckland, when an oncoming truck lost control of its trailer on the State Highway 16

The father-of-four noticed there was smoke from the truck and his first response was to take his foot off the accelerator as they approached.

He quickly realised there was no way they weren't going to collide with the truck.  

'You have this moment of weighing up your options really,' he said.

'It's really difficult to be able to make that split second decision. You've got to make real quick decisions on the fly.' 

Mr Cunliffe decided to swerve his car towards the left so the truck could 'take the side of the car as an impact point'.

The car accident comes just weeks after the Cunliffe family learnt their son Theo (pictured) has cancer. The five-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia on January 9

'I imagine it would have been lights out of me [if I didn't move],' he said. 

The dash-cam footage shows the trailer swing towards the car before it rams into the side of the car and shatters the front window. 

'I'm thankful in my driving ability to be able to position a car,' Mr Cunliffe said.

'It could have been very different, thank god it wasn't.'

The car accident comes just weeks after the Cunliffe family learnt their son Theo has cancer.

The five-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia on January 9.

A Give A Little page has been created on behalf of the family to relieve the financial burden following the diagnosis and car accident.  

'For his family it's a big adjustment and there are lots of unexpected costs,' the page says.

'They will need to get a car to manage Theo's hospital visits and continue to look after their three older kids.

Mr Cunliffe, who was behind the wheel, was sprayed by glass in the collision on Tuesday

 The couple were on their way back from an appointment for Theo when the accident occurred. Their car was completely destroyed in the clash (pictured) 

'Theo has had complications with his portacath and had been in and out of hospital since his diagnosis.'

The page says the couple were on their way back from an appointment for Theo when the accident occurred. Their car was completely destroyed in the clash. 

The Cunliffe family 'pride themselves on their hospitality' and often host pizza nights and firework parties.   

'Anyone can help by making a donation here and all the fund will be for them to make Theo's and Cunliffe's family better,' the page says. 

'They are such good people and I think we can help them in this tough period.' 

Speaking to the beginning of 2020, Mr Cunliffe said: 'This is just another part of life. Another chapter in a saga.'

Mr Cunliffe decided to swerve his car towards the left so the truck could 'take the side of the car as an impact point'

The dash-cam footage shows the trailer swing towards the car before it rams into the side of the car and shatters the front window. 'I'm thankful in my driving ability to be able to position a car,' Mr Cunliffe said

'It's interesting times nonetheless.'

Mr Cunliffe said he was feeling 'pretty good' a couple of days after the accident. 

'It's pretty incredible to walk away with minor scraps,' he said.

'I was covered in glass. Just a few scratches, slapped around the head by the airbags.'

Mr Cunliffe said the driver of the truck, who checked on the couple, appeared quite shaken up by the ordeal.

The father said he was grateful for the safety features in their car doing its 'job', as well as the emergency crews who attended the scene within six minutes. 

'Full credit to the emergency services. They do a pretty hard and thankless jobs at times,' he said. 

'They have got to clean up messes all the time and thankfully this time it wasn't.

'Thankful to god and that the kids weren't in the back.

'It could have been a whole lot worse.' 

The father-of-four said he was grateful for the safety features in their car doing its 'job', as well as the emergency crews who attended the scene within six minutes

Mr Cunliffe said the accident could have been 'a whole lot worse'