Man proposes to girlfriend from the back of a police car

After Caine Hutchings lost control of his car and crashed into a tree, he realized the fragility of life — and proposed to his girlfriend while the pair rode to safety in a police car.

Hutchings, 30, of Somerset, England, had planned to propose to his girlfriend of two and a half years, Emily Dukeson, during a romantic walk with their dogs. The pair didn't end up going on the walk after the accident, but Hutchings still asked Dukeson to marry him.

After the crash, in which no one was injured, including their dogs, Hutchings and Dukeson were picked up by Nicola Rickards, a police officer with the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Rickards offered to drive them, along with the dogs, to a local pub.

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"We were only in the police car a short time, but the accident had put everything in perspective so I decided that I would ask there and then, because anything can change in just a moment, and I didn't want to wait any longer," Hutchings said. When they arrived at the pub, Rickards took a photo of Hutchings on one knee in front of the police car to commemorate the moment. Hutchings and Dukeson plan to tie the knot next year.