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Glasgow bin lorry inquiry: crew member describes screaming at driver Glasgow bin lorry inquiry: crew member describes screaming at driver
(about 3 hours later)
A crew member on board the bin lorry that careered through Glasgow city centre just before Christmas last year, killing six people, has described the moment he realised that the driver had passed out unconscious at the wheel.A crew member on board the bin lorry that careered through Glasgow city centre just before Christmas last year, killing six people, has described the moment he realised that the driver had passed out unconscious at the wheel.
Related: Glasgow bin lorry crash: five females and one male killedRelated: Glasgow bin lorry crash: five females and one male killed
In harrowing testimony on the first day of a fatal accident inquiry into the incident at Glasgow sheriff court on Wednesday, Matthew Telford, one of two backseat crew on the lorry, described events unfolding in the cab as he first felt the lorry veer to the left.In harrowing testimony on the first day of a fatal accident inquiry into the incident at Glasgow sheriff court on Wednesday, Matthew Telford, one of two backseat crew on the lorry, described events unfolding in the cab as he first felt the lorry veer to the left.
“I turned to [the driver, 58-year-old Harry Clarke] and said: ‘What are you doing Harry?’ At that point he was slumped to the left. For a very brief moment I thought he was carrying on.”“I turned to [the driver, 58-year-old Harry Clarke] and said: ‘What are you doing Harry?’ At that point he was slumped to the left. For a very brief moment I thought he was carrying on.”
“Then I said: ‘Harry, what are you fucking doing?’ His whole body slumped to the left, and only the seatbelt was holding him.”“Then I said: ‘Harry, what are you fucking doing?’ His whole body slumped to the left, and only the seatbelt was holding him.”
Fighting back tears, Telford described the trajectory of the vehicle as it mounted the pavement and ploughed through pedestrians.Fighting back tears, Telford described the trajectory of the vehicle as it mounted the pavement and ploughed through pedestrians.
Jack Sweeney, 68, his wife, Lorraine, 69, and their 18-year-old granddaughter Erin McQuade, all from Dumbarton, were killed when they were struck by the heavy vehicle as it lurched across George Square before crashing into the side of the Millennium hotel at around 2.30pm on 22 December.Jack Sweeney, 68, his wife, Lorraine, 69, and their 18-year-old granddaughter Erin McQuade, all from Dumbarton, were killed when they were struck by the heavy vehicle as it lurched across George Square before crashing into the side of the Millennium hotel at around 2.30pm on 22 December.
Stephenie Tait, 29, a primary school teacher, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, also died in the accident, which happened as the area was teeming with last-minute Christmas shoppers and visitors to the ice rink and amusements in the square.Stephenie Tait, 29, a primary school teacher, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, also died in the accident, which happened as the area was teeming with last-minute Christmas shoppers and visitors to the ice rink and amusements in the square.
Telford was overcome with emotion several times as he described watching through the windscreen as the lorry crashed into groups of pedestrians. “Panic set in and I started screaming at him. I was punching him in the back just to get a response from him.Telford was overcome with emotion several times as he described watching through the windscreen as the lorry crashed into groups of pedestrians. “Panic set in and I started screaming at him. I was punching him in the back just to get a response from him.
“I was just hoping [the vehicle] would hit something and it would stop. But it didn’t stop.”“I was just hoping [the vehicle] would hit something and it would stop. But it didn’t stop.”
After the lorry came to rest, Telford described running around to the driver’s door, to find Clarke groaning and confused: “He was a shade of grey I’ve never seen anyone before.After the lorry came to rest, Telford described running around to the driver’s door, to find Clarke groaning and confused: “He was a shade of grey I’ve never seen anyone before.
“He asked me what was going on. I told him never mind. He didn’t know where he was.”“He asked me what was going on. I told him never mind. He didn’t know where he was.”
He added that Clarke had not, to his knowledge, experienced any dizziness or fainting at work in the past three years.He added that Clarke had not, to his knowledge, experienced any dizziness or fainting at work in the past three years.
Telford also told the court he had no knowledge of two unopened bottles of beer that were discovered in the vehicle following the crash. He said he had no knowledge of them until asked abut them by the police, and that there was no drinking in the vehicle.Telford also told the court he had no knowledge of two unopened bottles of beer that were discovered in the vehicle following the crash. He said he had no knowledge of them until asked abut them by the police, and that there was no drinking in the vehicle.
Under questioning from the families’ representatives, Telford insisted that he could not have reached the steering wheel or the handbrake from his position in the back of the cab. He said the crew had no training in what to do if the driver fell ill at the wheel, nor did he have any knowledge of the lorry’s controls.Under questioning from the families’ representatives, Telford insisted that he could not have reached the steering wheel or the handbrake from his position in the back of the cab. He said the crew had no training in what to do if the driver fell ill at the wheel, nor did he have any knowledge of the lorry’s controls.
Earlier, some family members of the victims left the court as CCTV footage was screened of the lorry careering through George Square. Details about the 10 members of the public injured in the crash was also read to the court, including the grandparents who threw the buggy containing their three-year-old grand-daughter into the road in order to avoid it being hit by the lorry. Earlier, some family members of the victims left the court as CCTV footage was screened of the lorry careering through George Square. Details about the 10 members of the public injured in the crash was also read to the court, including the grandparents who threw the buggy containing their three-year-old granddaughter into the road in order to avoid it being hit by the lorry.
Before the inquiry began, Sheriff John Beckett offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the accident exactly seven months ago, before asking everyone in court to stand and observe a minute’s silence for the victims. Beckett said: “I can only imagine the shock, pain and anguish which you have suffered following your sudden and terrible loss.”Before the inquiry began, Sheriff John Beckett offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the accident exactly seven months ago, before asking everyone in court to stand and observe a minute’s silence for the victims. Beckett said: “I can only imagine the shock, pain and anguish which you have suffered following your sudden and terrible loss.”
The inquiry is expected to consider the driver’s medical background, his fitness to hold a licence and his employment record and training, as well as examining whether anything could have been done to halt the lorry.The inquiry is expected to consider the driver’s medical background, his fitness to hold a licence and his employment record and training, as well as examining whether anything could have been done to halt the lorry.
Evidence read to the court said that many members of the public described the driver as appearing “slumped forward” at the wheel. The inquiry also heard that there was nothing to suggest the incident was a deliberate act and that the condition of the truck, road surface and visibility were not factors in the crash.Evidence read to the court said that many members of the public described the driver as appearing “slumped forward” at the wheel. The inquiry also heard that there was nothing to suggest the incident was a deliberate act and that the condition of the truck, road surface and visibility were not factors in the crash.
In February, prosecutors announced that Clarke would not face criminal proceedings for his role in the accident. Scotland’s Crown Office said that, despite the “catastrophic consequences”, there was no evidence to suggest that the driver’s conduct at the time amounted to a breach of the criminal law. Neither did they consider that there was evidence to support the prosecution of Glasgow city council in respect of any breaches of health and safety law. In February, prosecutors announced that Clarke would not face criminal proceedings for his role in the accident. Scotland’s Crown Office said that, despite the catastrophic consequences, there was no evidence to suggest that the driver’s conduct at the time amounted to a breach of the criminal law. Neither did they consider that there was evidence to support the prosecution of Glasgow city council in respect of any breaches of health and safety law.
Lawyers for the families of the victims said their clients wanted to “ensure justice is done”. David Wilson, a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, told the Guardian: “What I believe everyone is hoping for is a robust and comprehensive inquiry which will answer the many questions those affected by the events have. Lawyers for the families of the victims said their clients wanted to ensure justice is done. David Wilson, a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, said: “What I believe everyone is hoping for is a robust and comprehensive inquiry which will answer the many questions those affected by the events have.
“It is extremely important for the families of those who died that we establish any lessons that can be learnt for the future. The families want to get answers, ensure justice is done and precautions are taken so that such a tragedy does not happen again.”“It is extremely important for the families of those who died that we establish any lessons that can be learnt for the future. The families want to get answers, ensure justice is done and precautions are taken so that such a tragedy does not happen again.”