None of the occupants of the three cars was seriously hurt. However, one woman was complaining of chest pains and it took some time for paramedics and a firefighting crew to remove her from the wreckage of her car on a spinal board.

The accident forced the closure of the southbound carriageway of the Kingsway between Myrekirk Road and the Swallow roundabout.

Dozens of motorists had to sit and wait for the damaged cars — which included a Volvo and Ford Focus — to be removed from the roadway. Tailbacks stretched as far as the petrol forecourt at Kingsway West, and police were diverting cars away from the accident scene on a route through Dundee Technology Park.

The road was fully reopened at noon.

Tayside Fire and Rescue Watch manager Stephen Caird said, “Paramedics were dealing with a female casualty who had cuts and bruises and was complaining of pains in her chest. She was not trapped, but was wearing a neck brace and, as a precautionary measure, we assisted the paramedics in removing her from the vehicle and putting her on a stretcher.”

Meanwhile, a pedestrian was taken to hospital with minor injuries today after being struck by a car in Dundee. The accident happened at 12.15pm at the circle at the junction of Harefield Road and Johnston Avenue, yards from the entrance to St John’s High School.

The adult male casualty — who has not been named — was taken to Ninewells for a check up. His injuries were said to be relatively minor. The purple Peugeot 106 car involved in the incident was left with a broken windscreen following the collision.