Truck-driving dog sparks chaos after getting behind wheel of owners' lorry

'The dog seemed excited by all the people running around outside the truck after it happened'

A dog got behind the wheel of a truck in Minnesota and caused absolute chaos (AP)

A pet dog caused havoc in a Minnesota street after jumping behind the steering wheel of his owner's truck and driving away.

The labrador knocked the lorry into gear and drove over a tree before crashing into a car at a petrol station on Friday afternoon near the city of Mankato.

The driver and owner of the dog is believed to have left the vehicle running in a nearby car park.

Mankato police say the lorry ploughed through the car park, across the street and over a curb.

The driving-dog's road trip was quickly over when he hit a tree and crashed into a parked car - putting an end to the trail of chaos he left behind him.

David Stegora, who witnessed the scene, tweeted: "The dog seemed excited by all the people running around outside the truck after it happened."

The Free Press of Mankato reported a passer-by discovered the dog sitting in the driver's seat when he jumped into the truck to stop it.