Crossword Genius

Frightened as we hurtled towards the vehicle (3-6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

awe-struck

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'frightened as we' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'hurtled towards the vehicle' is the wordplay.
'hurtled' becomes 'awes' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'towards' means one lot of letters go next to another (I've seen this in other clues).
'the vehicle' becomes 'truck' (truck is a kind of vehicle).
'awes'+'truck'='AWE-STRUCK'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for awe-struck that I've seen before include "Smitten with wonder" , "Lost for words" , "Most impressed" , "Dumbfounded" , "Filled with amazement" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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