only for the car to veer into a ditch

[JACEK1]

Hello users!

It is not my intention to derive pleasure from the near-death tragedy, but I would like to ask you about the meaning of the last part of the sentence;

Mr Raheema told Swedish TV he took his eyes off the road to watch his wife give birth, only for the car to veer into a ditch.

I think that only for the car to veer into a ditch and the car unexpectedly veered into the ditch.

Thank you.

 

[SoothingDave]

When he took his eyes off the road, the car went into the ditch.

 

[JACEK1]

I meant to write: I think that only for the car to veer into a ditch means the car unexpectedly veered into the ditch.

 

[bhaisahab]

I meant to write: I think that only for the car to veer into a ditch means the car unexpectedly veered into the ditch.

The car veered into the ditch, "unexpectedly" is redundant. If he had expected the car to veer into the ditch as a consequence, he wouldn't have taken his eyes off the road.

 

[billmcd]

"Only for" in that context means "but with the final result".