A Tayside lorry driver forced a tractor off the road in an terrifying incident that caused rush-hour chaos on the busy A90 dual carriageway.
The father and daughter in the tractor needed hospital treatment for a variety of injuries, including broken ribs, a collapsed lung and fractured cheek after the incident near Glamis.
Meanwhile, a number of cattle were thrown on to the road and under a trailer.
The incident happened as Glamis prepared for the biggest day in its calendar, the Transport Extravaganza, and mile-long tailbacks lasted several hours while emergency services worked to undo the carnage.
An admission of guilt was made to Forfar Sheriff Court on behalf of Dundee man John Hamilton on Thursday.
However the 44-year-old did not attend to hear his sentence, which was deferred as a result.
The court heard how his lorry, a transporter for national catering firm Brakes, pushed the tractor off the road after following it for a short distance at 5.15pm on Friday, July 12.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie said the accused, of Victoria Street, was driving a 13-and-a-half tonne lorry in his employ.
“Around 5pm on Friday, Heather and Arthur Duff were driving in the nearside lane southbound on the A90, near the Quilko junction.
“The accused was also driving south, and was keeping a short distance behind,” she added.
As the Duffs travelled, the accused began to narrow the gap, until it pushed the trailer. This caused the tractor and the cattle float to leave the road and plunge down an embankment, scattering the cattle in the process.
Ms Gillespie said: “It is unclear whether it was before or after the collision that the cattle escaped.”
The accused stopped his vehicle at the barrier, parallel with the tractor. A queue of traffic formed behind his vehicle and another motorist called 999.
Two bulls were trapped beneath the overturned trailer and had to be freed using hydraulic cutting equipment and a digger.
Both carriageways were closed for several hours causing long tailbacks as traffic was diverted through Forfar.
Ms Gillespie added that Ms Duff was still in the vehicle when they reached her, and she had sustained a fracture to her left cheek, which required a metal plate.
Mr Duff was preoccupied with trying to organise the cattle, but was later found to have a collapsed lung and broken ribs. Ms Gillespie said no defect was found with steering or brakes in the lorry.
Visiting sheriff Mark Stewart QC said: “Given the serious nature of this incident, this is a matter that requires the accused to make a personal appearance.”
Sheriff Stewart deferred sentence for three weeks for Hamilton to attend the court. Previous convictions were admitted to by his defence agent Keith Sym.
Hamilton admitted driving without due care and attention on July 12. He further admitted veering into the offside carriageway and colliding with the crash barrier.