Glasgow bin lorry crash inquiry to assess driver's medical history

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/13/glasgow-bin-lorry-crash-inquiry-driver

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A fatal accident inquiry into a bin lorry crash in which six people died will look at the driver’s medical background and his fitness to hold a licence. It will also consider the technical aspects of the vehicle and whether it was appropriate for it to take the route it did through Glasgow city centre just before Christmas.

Erin McQuade, 18, her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and his 69-year-old wife Lorraine, all from Dumbarton, died in the incident in the city’s Queen Street and George Square on 22 December last year. Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed when the truck mounted the pavement before crashing into the side of the Millennium hotel.

A preliminary hearing for the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) took place on Monday at Glasgow sheriff court, where the inquiry is due to start on 22 July. Sheriff principal Craig Scott, who will hear the FAI, said it would attempt to “establish the circumstances relating to the tragic deaths” of the victims.

Scotland’s second most senior law officer, solicitor general Lesley Thomson QC, who will lead the inquiry, said it would cover three main areas. “The issues fall into three categories which are firstly around the driver of the vehicle, his medical background, his fitness to hold the licence, his employment record and training,” she said.

“Secondly, the vehicle itself and the technical aspects, if there could have been any measures or interventions to have brought that vehicle to a controlled stop. And thirdly, the safety of the refuse collection route taken by the motor vehicle. In relation to that I would intend to explore not just the route but the time of week and the time of year and assess the appropriateness of that route at that time of year.

“The Crown’s position is that I anticipate being ready to conduct the inquiry on the dates being given and that it can be concluded within the time allocated.”

Thomson said arrangements would be made for people involved in the FAI to view the vehicle before the inquiry starts, while during the FAI it would be brought to a suitable place close to the court. She also requested that a film of the route from the level of the driver be made.

Lawyers for the families, Glasgow city council, DVLA and the driver were also at the hearing, as were some relatives of those who died.

Some of lawyers said they could not indicate whether they would be ready by 22 July after the court heard some material and expert reports were not yet available from the Crown.

The sheriff principal said: “I have to stress it would be very unfortunate for the inquiry not to proceed on the appointed date. The Crown have been expeditious in instigating the inquiry into the events of 22 December and the court has been equally expeditious in making considerable arrangements to accommodate the inquiry.

“Were the inquiry to be put off, it’s difficult at this stage to envisage when it might be accommodated, so really, where possible, the inquiry should proceed on 22 July.”

A further preliminary hearing has been set for 18 May.