A delivery driver was in his van on Saturday night when an owl flew through the open driver's window. It crashed into his head.

So stunned was the 21-year-old driver, his van ended up hitting a parked car - causing considerable damage to both vehicles.

Witnesses said the driver, fearing he would be attacked for a second time, jumped from his vehicle to escape the rogue bird.

Luckily, one of the witnesses snapped a photograph of the owl seated on the van's dash before police arrived on scene.

"Thankfully there was photographic evidence otherwise we never would have believed the story," a statement from Lake Macquarie in NSW police said.

"The owl failed to exchange particulars and made good his escape before the police arrived."