Woman hit by loose wheel from tow car

A wheel came loose from a towed car, rolled down a Black Country street and knocked over a pedestrian, fracturing her skull, a court heard.

David Badger and Benjamin Wiggin were towing the Renault Campus when the front rearside wheel broke off and hurtled down Straight Road, Willenhall.

Kathleen Bolton was starting to cross the road and was knocked over, hitting her head on the pavement and damaging her skull. The 63-year-old spent time in hospital and is recovering at home.

She does not remember anything about the accident on January 29, Mr Jason Corden-Bowen, prosecuting, said.

Badger and Wiggin, both of Great Wyrley, pleaded guilty at Walsall Magistrates Court yesterday to using a motor vehicle or trailer in a condition likely to cause danger of injury.

They had been using the Renault as a "donor" to add parts to another car. They were then expecting to take the Renault to be scrapped.

The court heard that it was being towed correctly but the front-wheel bearings were not secured properly, which led to the wheel coming loose.

After Mrs Bolton was hit, police and paramedics were called, and the pair were arrested.

Mrs Bolton was taken to Walsall Manor Hospital.

Badger, aged 28, of Broadmeadow Lane, and Wiggin, 30, of Hilton Lane, admitted a charge that the condition of the motor vehicle was such that its use involved a danger of injury to any person.

The pair were fined £165 each and ordered to pay £85 costs. There was also a £15 victim surcharge, and three penalty points were added to their licences.

They apologised to the court and said they were unaware of the potential pitfall. Wiggin said: "If I had an idea this could have happened, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."

Magistrates decided not to disqualify the pair from driving.