A woman in Edinburgh had her BMW tyre sliced open by a pothole outside the Royal Infirmary while on her way home from work.
Debbie Taylor, 42, was travelling on Old Dalkeith Road towards the Whisp when her front wheel caught the huge crater in the road. After the fright, Debbie stopped to check her car and discovered a shredded tyre.
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The busy road serves the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and is a major route in and out of the city. Transport and Environment Convener Scott Arthur said that a team has immediately been sent out to make the pothole safe before it is permanently fixed.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, employment consultant Debbie, from Moredun, said: "It happened on Old Dalkeith Road just after the Royal Infirmary heading in the Wisp direction. The hole is literally just after the first bus stop after the lights at the Royal Infirmary.
"It's in direct line with your wheels as you drive towards it which is why it's catching so many people. I just saw it and tried to swerve to avoid it but it caught my nearside front tyre."
Recalling the shocking incident, Debbie added: "It completely ripped it open and chipped my alloy wheels, the car was still able to drive with the ripped burst tyre. but it advised that I had lost pressure and I could feel the tyre had gone down and burst.
"I pulled over at 12.30 and called BMW roadside assistance who organised a truck to pick my car up but that was delayed in another incident on the A1 so I was not picked up until 5pm.
"I was going out to the shops and due to the delay, I asked if they could call me on the arrival of the truck so I could go about my day as it was already 3.30 by this point.
"I got the call at 4.30 and I met the truck at my car. While walking to meet the truck there were another two cars pulled over, one was getting her tyre changed due to the same pothole and a taxi driver who also had the same issue so we exchanged numbers."
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She continued: "I have BMW roadside assistance and I have full year's cover when I bought the car in April, so I don't think I will personally be forking out any money.
"But a tyre is about £170 plus I'm getting a courtesy car provided for me. So all this and the recovery truck I guess would be nearly heading in the high hundreds or 1000s."
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Our Roads Operations team received a report about the pothole this morning and immediately sent a team to make it safe.
“It’s now scheduled for a permanent repair, which will be carried out as soon as possible.”
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