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Glasgow bin lorry crash: driver describes last moments before fatal accident Glasgow bin lorry crash: driver describes last moments before fatal accident
(34 minutes later)
Harry Clarke, the driver in the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy which left six people dead, has described his last memory of the incident as “a bang, just like a light switch” before fainting at the wheel.Harry Clarke, the driver in the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy which left six people dead, has described his last memory of the incident as “a bang, just like a light switch” before fainting at the wheel.
Clarke, 58, told a fatal accident inquiry in Glasgow that the next thing he remembers is coming back to consciousness with his lorry wedged into the front of the Millennium hotel on 22 December, as fire crews tried to ease him out of the cab. Clarke, 58, told a fatal accident inquiry in Glasgow that the next thing he remembers is regaining consciousness with his lorry wedged into the front of the Millennium hotel on 22 December, as fire crews tried to ease him out of the cab.
“I recall the blue lights, and everything going crazy,” he told Glasgow sheriff court, as he exhaled several times with the stress of recalling the crash in which six people died and 15 were left injured after his lorry careered down several streets crowded with Christmas shoppers.“I recall the blue lights, and everything going crazy,” he told Glasgow sheriff court, as he exhaled several times with the stress of recalling the crash in which six people died and 15 were left injured after his lorry careered down several streets crowded with Christmas shoppers.
As a paramedic and fire crews tried to talk to him before he was taken to hospital, he said, “my speech was slurred, and I knew who people were but I was very confused.” He had vague memories of his colleague Matt Telford shouting “wake up” at him after he passed out, but it sounded like Telford was “a mile away ... very, very faint”. As a paramedic and fire crews tried to talk to him before he was taken to hospital, he said: “My speech was slurred, and I knew who people were but I was very confused.” He had vague memories of his colleague Matt Telford shouting “wake up” at him after he passed out, but it sounded like Telford was “a mile away ... very, very faint”.
His dramatic testimony, during the fifth week of a fatal accident inquiry into the crash, came after a day of tense confrontations with Lesley Thomson QC, the solicitor general, after Clarke had refused to answer scores of questions about his lengthy medical history and alleged lies about his ill-health.His dramatic testimony, during the fifth week of a fatal accident inquiry into the crash, came after a day of tense confrontations with Lesley Thomson QC, the solicitor general, after Clarke had refused to answer scores of questions about his lengthy medical history and alleged lies about his ill-health.
The tension in court peaked on Thursday morning when Thomson, apparently frustrated by Clarke’s refusal to talk, repeatedly challenged him over what he knew about the events of that day, and whether he knew the victims were mothers, fathers and grandparents.The tension in court peaked on Thursday morning when Thomson, apparently frustrated by Clarke’s refusal to talk, repeatedly challenged him over what he knew about the events of that day, and whether he knew the victims were mothers, fathers and grandparents.
After he claimed at one point that he only knew some details of the crash from newspaper reports, Thomson appeared to lose her patience: “You do know that every family has been in court every day to hear answers? Did you know that?”After he claimed at one point that he only knew some details of the crash from newspaper reports, Thomson appeared to lose her patience: “You do know that every family has been in court every day to hear answers? Did you know that?”
She was interrupted by objections from Clarke’s lawyers, but again pressed him, asking: “Do you understand that by your decision not to answer you’re putting yourself first?”She was interrupted by objections from Clarke’s lawyers, but again pressed him, asking: “Do you understand that by your decision not to answer you’re putting yourself first?”
Until Thomson later brought the questioning onto his own movements and recollection of the specific events on the day of the crash, Clarke had repeatedly responded “I don’t want to answer that” and “no comment” to questions about his alleged lies and his medical history. Until Thomson later brought the questioning on to his own movements and recollection of the specific events on the day of the crash, Clarke had repeatedly responded “I don’t want to answer that” and “no comment” to questions about alleged lies regarding his medical history.
Lawyers for families of two of the six people killed in the crash confirmed in court on Thursday that they were planning a private prosecution for deception and lying about his medical history after the FAI ended, raising the clear risk that Clarke could incriminate himself.Lawyers for families of two of the six people killed in the crash confirmed in court on Thursday that they were planning a private prosecution for deception and lying about his medical history after the FAI ended, raising the clear risk that Clarke could incriminate himself.
Following numerous warnings from the sheriff about his right to remain silent, Clarke refused to answer key questions about numerous doctors visits and medical tests for dizziness, fainting, vertigo, heart problems, tension headaches, operations on hands and knee pain dating back to 1976.Following numerous warnings from the sheriff about his right to remain silent, Clarke refused to answer key questions about numerous doctors visits and medical tests for dizziness, fainting, vertigo, heart problems, tension headaches, operations on hands and knee pain dating back to 1976.
He refused to confirm details about visits to doctors for dizziness, vertigo, tiredness, fainting, “sweats and tingles”, heart problems, his weight and drinking in 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2008 and 2010.He refused to confirm details about visits to doctors for dizziness, vertigo, tiredness, fainting, “sweats and tingles”, heart problems, his weight and drinking in 1976, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2008 and 2010.
That nine-page list of doctors and hospital visits included long details about several doctors consultations in April 2010 before he fainted at the wheel of a First Bus bus at a bus stop, and his long absences for ill-health in March and April 2010. He then resigned from First Bus on 1 January 2011 after facing disciplinary charges for repeatedly arriving at bus stops early. That nine-page list of doctors and hospital visits included long details about several doctors consultations in April 2010 before he fainted at the wheel of a First bus at a bus stop, and his long absences for ill-health in March and April 2010. He then resigned from First Bus on 1 January 2011 after facing disciplinary charges for repeatedly arriving at bus stops early.
Clarke’s medical history – and his alleged failure to disclose his repeated fainting fits and dizziness to his employers, their medical advisers, and the DVLA, has become central to the FAI after Scotland’s prosecutors, the Crown Office, controversially decided not to prosecute him in February. Clarke’s medical history – and his alleged failure to disclose his repeated fainting fits and dizziness to his employers, their medical advisers and the DVLA – has become central to the FAI after Scotland’s prosecutors, the Crown Office, controversially decided not to prosecute him in February.
Lawyers for families of two victims, Jacqueline Morton and Stephenie Tait, confirmed on Thursday to Sheriff John Beckett QC, presiding, that they planned to seek a private prosecution of Clarke after the FAI.Lawyers for families of two victims, Jacqueline Morton and Stephenie Tait, confirmed on Thursday to Sheriff John Beckett QC, presiding, that they planned to seek a private prosecution of Clarke after the FAI.
Beckett refused a Tait family motion to adjourn the FAI for at least three months to allow them to pursue a private case before Clarke gave evidence, and said Clarke could be warned he was only obliged to confirm his name and age to avoid self-incrimination.Beckett refused a Tait family motion to adjourn the FAI for at least three months to allow them to pursue a private case before Clarke gave evidence, and said Clarke could be warned he was only obliged to confirm his name and age to avoid self-incrimination.
He told the court he was already able to establish key facts and infer conclusions about Clarke’s medical history and conduct from evidence already disclosed to the inquiry, regardless of Clarke’s decision to refuse to answer key questions.He told the court he was already able to establish key facts and infer conclusions about Clarke’s medical history and conduct from evidence already disclosed to the inquiry, regardless of Clarke’s decision to refuse to answer key questions.
But he warned the families and public in court not to react angrily to his evidence or his refusal to give complete testimony. Reminding them the court needed “order and decorum”, Beckett added: “No matter how emotionally affecting this might be, the court does need to conduct itself in an orderly fashion.” In the event, relatives of two victims left the court; the others remained silent throughout his testimony.But he warned the families and public in court not to react angrily to his evidence or his refusal to give complete testimony. Reminding them the court needed “order and decorum”, Beckett added: “No matter how emotionally affecting this might be, the court does need to conduct itself in an orderly fashion.” In the event, relatives of two victims left the court; the others remained silent throughout his testimony.
Clarke’s testimony will continue on Friday, with lawyers for the six families yet to decide whether to cross-examine him at length after his refusal to answer key questions about his medical history.Clarke’s testimony will continue on Friday, with lawyers for the six families yet to decide whether to cross-examine him at length after his refusal to answer key questions about his medical history.