THIS is the moment a routine roadside check turned into a horrific knife attack when a drunk driver stabbed two policemen, leaving one dead.

Video footage of the attack was recorded using a dashcam fitted to the police car of officers on duty in the village of Kharlovo in south central Russia.

The two policeman are seen seated in the front of the car when the drunk driver, a 38-year-old man, went into a fit of rage.

He appears to be almost falling asleep but suddenly pulls out a knife and repeatedly stabs the officer sitting on the right of the video.

media_camera Shock attack ... The police officers sit in the car unaware of what is about to happen. Picture: LiveLeak

The badly injured officer, Aleksandr Lyamkin, 34, struggled desperately to stop the attacker and is seen trying to open the door to get out of the car.

The attacker is seen repeatedly stabbing the large knife into the body of the police officer before turning the weapon onto the other police officer.

Officer Lyamkin eventually managed to get out of the car, before collapsing on the floor covered in blood. He later died.

His colleague got out, and rushed to the rear of the car. He held the door shut as the crazed man tried to get out, before finally giving up.

media_camera Attack ... The drunk driver lunges towards one of the officers with a knife. Picture: Australscope/CEN

The officer then called for backup while holding the door shut.

More policemen arrived and arrested the 38-year-old who was confirmed to be drunk at the time of the incident.

The unnamed man now faces between 12 and 25 years in prison for killing the policeman.

The second officer who was badly wounded is expected to make a full recovery.

“The investigation is ongoing but this is a tragic day for all police officers.

“The dead officer was married with a wife and two children, an 11-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter who will now grow up without their father,” Police spokeswoman Ludmila Ryazantseva said.

Originally published as Police stabbing caught on dashcam