A bin lorry’s wheels fell off on a busy Dundee road, causing it to career into a parked car, a court has heard.
The incident caused chaos in Kirkton last October when two of the truck’s wheels came off as it was driven down Balgowan Avenue.
One of the wheels flew through the air after striking a Volkswagen, leaving a huge dent in the car.
The incident happened around an hour before pupils left nearby schools at the end of their day.
At the city’s Justice of the Peace court on Tuesday, Dundee City Council admitted allowing the lorry to be driven by an employee when its wheels came off.
It was admitted that, on October 23, at Balgowan Avenue, the council permitted driver David Boath to use a lorry which was in such a condition that it involved a danger of injury to any person in that two wheels fitted were not securely fitted.
As a result the wheels came off and travelled in an uncontrolled way along the carriageway and one of them struck a car, causing damage.
Despite pleading guilty, the council declined to comment on the case.
The lorry slid further down the street before skidding to a halt opposite the Downfield Social Club.
Witnesses spoke of their shock at seeing the wheel flying through the air and landing in a driveway.
One householder said: “The tyre must’ve been going at some speed. I came outside thinking ‘what on earth is going on?’ and there was a queue of cars behind the lorry.
“I had only been outside 10 minutes earlier and if it had been an hour later the schools would have been coming out, so it is lucky that there was nobody there.”
The road was closed off by police while they waited for the eight-wheel vehicle to be recovered.
The road was closed until the vehicle was recovered a few hours later.
Sentence was deferred until March 12.
When asked to comment on the incident, a spokesman for the city council said: “It would not be appropriate for the council to comment at this time.”