A man plunged 25ft from a bridge on to a busy dual carriageway after he was believed to have been trying to flee from the police.
The 40-year-old was said to be lucky to be alive after the incident.
It happened at 6am on the A737 Kilbarchan slip road on the Johnstone bypass, Renfrewshire.
A man was reported to have been seen trying to run away after being disturbed during a robbery bid by someone nearby or an alarm going off.
Moments later police were called to an attempted robbery at Kilbarchan convenience store in Tandlehill Road.
A short time later they received a report of a man lying injured at the side of the A737.
One source said: “It seems he ran towards the slip road and I suppose he had nowhere else to go and ended up on the road.
“He is lucky to be alive – if a car had been coming who knows what might have happened.”
Police and ambulance were quickly on the scene and the man was treated for his injuries.
He was understood to have suffered several broken bones, but was conscious.
He was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, but his condition was not thought to be life threatening.
A police spokeswoman said: “Emergency services were alerted after a man was found injured near the Kilbarchan slip road.
“A 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident.”
