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Henry Toal recalls 'terror' of Glasgow bin lorry crash Glasgow bin lorry crash driver 'blacked out before'
(about 1 hour later)
A crewman of the bin lorry that killed six people in Glasgow has told a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) he was terrified as the vehicle hit pedestrians. The fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the Glasgow bin lorry crash which killed six people has heard the driver blacked out before while driving a bus.
Henry Toal told Glasgow Sheriff Court he could not remember doing anything as the out-of-control lorry sped along Queen Street on 22 December last year. Glasgow Sheriff Court has previously heard that Harry Clarke was unconscious at the wheel when the lorry hit pedestrians on 22 December last year.
The FAI also heard that the driver on that day, Harry Clarke, is back at work although not on driving duties. First Bus inspector John Stewart told the FAI that Mr Clarke had blacked out while unwell at a bus stop in 2010.
The inquiry will focus on the vehicle, its route and the health of Mr Clarke. The inquiry is examining the bin lorry, its route and Mr Clarke's health.
Mr Toal was giving evidence on the second day of the inquiry, which is being overseen by Sheriff John Beckett QC. Mr Stewart told the second day of the FAI, which is being overseen by Sheriff John Beckett QC, that he was an inspector and had been with First Bus Glasgow for 12 years.
'Taken unwell'
He referred to notes detailing an incident involving Mr Clarke, while he was a bus driver, on 7 April 2010.
The notes of his daily report from that day state Mr Clarke "blacked out for a couple of minutes" while at a bus stop having "taken unwell".
Mr Stewart said he was alerted by a passenger on the number 54 bus that the driver had collapsed at the wheel.
The witness said Mr Clarke was still in the driver's seat of the bus when he arrived at the scene, but there were no passengers on board.
An ambulance was called and paramedics arrived to attend to Mr Clarke who was given the all clear and refused to go to hospital.
He was not allowed to drive the bus back, which was returned to the depot by Mr Stewart.
The witness said his involvement ended as soon as he left Mr Clarke and that he assumed the driver would have been sent to the company doctor.
Earlier, the inquiry heard again from Henry Toal, who was a member of the three-man crew of the bin lorry on the day of the crash.
Looked unconscious
He told the inquiry on Monday that he was not aware of Mr Clarke having any serious medical condition and would have reported any issue.He told the inquiry on Monday that he was not aware of Mr Clarke having any serious medical condition and would have reported any issue.
Driver unconscious On Tuesday, Mr Toal told the court that the first he knew of any problem on board the lorry was when his fellow crewman, Matthew Telford, asked Mr Clarke what he was doing.
On Tuesday, Mr Toal told the court that the first he knew of any problem was when his fellow crewman, Matthew Telford, asked Mr Clarke what he was doing.
The witness said Mr Clarke was slumped over to the left side and "didn't look conscious".The witness said Mr Clarke was slumped over to the left side and "didn't look conscious".
Mr Toal recalled that Mr Telford loosened his seatbelt, leaned forward and hit Mr Clarke in the back but there was no response from the driver.Mr Toal recalled that Mr Telford loosened his seatbelt, leaned forward and hit Mr Clarke in the back but there was no response from the driver.
He said Mr Telford was shouting, "Harry, you're killing people", but he could not remember if he shouted anything himself.He said Mr Telford was shouting, "Harry, you're killing people", but he could not remember if he shouted anything himself.
The witness told the court that he was "terrified" and thought they had initially hit poles and bins on the left-hand side of the truck.The witness told the court that he was "terrified" and thought they had initially hit poles and bins on the left-hand side of the truck.
He then recalled that the lorry "hit a few people" and a taxi before hitting the wall of the Millennium Hotel.He then recalled that the lorry "hit a few people" and a taxi before hitting the wall of the Millennium Hotel.
Mr Toal said he kept his seatbelt on and pushed himself into the wall of the cab as it sped along Queen Street and could not remember doing anything.Mr Toal said he kept his seatbelt on and pushed himself into the wall of the cab as it sped along Queen Street and could not remember doing anything.
He said he suffered a "burst eye" in the incident.He said he suffered a "burst eye" in the incident.
Crash footage Fire worry
Solicitor General Lesley Thomson, Scotland's second most senior law officer, who is leading the FAI, read from a police statement the day after the crash in which Mr Toal said Mr Clarke's hands were on the wheel.Solicitor General Lesley Thomson, Scotland's second most senior law officer, who is leading the FAI, read from a police statement the day after the crash in which Mr Toal said Mr Clarke's hands were on the wheel.
Mr Toal said "it was a long time ago" but agreed that Mr Clarke's hands were on wheel, but he may not have been gripping it.Mr Toal said "it was a long time ago" but agreed that Mr Clarke's hands were on wheel, but he may not have been gripping it.
Mr Toal said that after the lorry came to a stop he was worried that it could catch fire.Mr Toal said that after the lorry came to a stop he was worried that it could catch fire.
He said that he and Mr Telford ran around the side to get to Mr Clarke.He said that he and Mr Telford ran around the side to get to Mr Clarke.
The witness told the FAI that he was off work for more than a month following the crash and returned to duties in February.The witness told the FAI that he was off work for more than a month following the crash and returned to duties in February.
He said bin lorry routes were now shorter and that after the crash routes through pedestrianised areas were changed and divided between different trucks and crews.He said bin lorry routes were now shorter and that after the crash routes through pedestrianised areas were changed and divided between different trucks and crews.
He said large DAF lorries, like the one involved in the crash, no longer work on pedestrianised areas which are now covered by box vans.He said large DAF lorries, like the one involved in the crash, no longer work on pedestrianised areas which are now covered by box vans.
Mr Toal said he was not told why these changes were made but assumed they were because of the crash.Mr Toal said he was not told why these changes were made but assumed they were because of the crash.
The issue of unopened beer bottles in the lorry cabin, which Mr Telford denied having any knowledge of during Monday's evidence, was raised again.The issue of unopened beer bottles in the lorry cabin, which Mr Telford denied having any knowledge of during Monday's evidence, was raised again.
Christmas gifts Beer bottles
The witness said he only learned about the beer bottles the day after the crash when asked by police.The witness said he only learned about the beer bottles the day after the crash when asked by police.
Mr Toal agreed that bin lorry crews were sometimes given gifts, such as alcohol, at Christmas but said he did not remember any given on the day of the crash.Mr Toal agreed that bin lorry crews were sometimes given gifts, such as alcohol, at Christmas but said he did not remember any given on the day of the crash.
While being cross-examined by Alastair Forsyth QC, for Gillian Ewing's family, Mr Toal agreed that accepting gifts or bringing beer on to the lorry would constitute misconduct.While being cross-examined by Alastair Forsyth QC, for Gillian Ewing's family, Mr Toal agreed that accepting gifts or bringing beer on to the lorry would constitute misconduct.
Questioned about the handbrake, the witness said it never crossed his mind that he could have tried to engage it as he could not have reached it.Questioned about the handbrake, the witness said it never crossed his mind that he could have tried to engage it as he could not have reached it.
While being cross-examined by Mark Stewart QC, for the Sweeney and McQuade families, Mr Toal agreed that a "skilled, trained" person could have operated some of the lorry controls and perhaps done something about the crash.While being cross-examined by Mark Stewart QC, for the Sweeney and McQuade families, Mr Toal agreed that a "skilled, trained" person could have operated some of the lorry controls and perhaps done something about the crash.
Mr Toal concluded his evidence by saying that the bin lorry was on its way to the last collection of the day when the crash happened.Mr Toal concluded his evidence by saying that the bin lorry was on its way to the last collection of the day when the crash happened.
The next witness called was Alan Kernaghan, who has worked for Glasgow City Council for more than 21 years. Previous evidence
He told the inquiry he had driven refuse lorries for 15 years and known Harry Clarke, who he described as "a lovely guy", for "two or three three years". The court also heard that Mr Clarke had since returned to work since the tragedy, although not on driving duties.
Tracking system The first day of the inquiry heard from Mr Toal's fellow crewman, Mr Telford, who said he hit Mr Clarke and screamed at him while he was slumped unconscious at the wheel.
Mr Kernaghan said that on the day of the crash he was asked to stand in as an assistant supervisor and dealt with other drivers for 45 minutes before going out on his own route.
He said he issued keys to other drivers and made sure they filled in paperwork - a job he had done before.
This involved a "vehicle sign in sheet", so supervisors knew which crew members were in the lorries, which were fitted with tracking systems.
Part of this job involved giving drivers a "visual check" to make sure they were "steady on their feet" before giving them keys.
If they were not well in any way, they would not be given keys and management would be informed.
The witness confirmed he had not been given formal training in driver assessment.
Mr Kernaghan agreed that part of the check was to see if drivers had been drinking the night before and he said they would not have been given keys if there was any concern.
He said alcohol was the easiest thing to check drivers for because of the smell.
The witness said Mr Clarke was given his keys at about 06:30 and appeared to be his "normal happy self".
Mr Kernaghan said he briefly saw Mr Clarke again in a laundry room at lunchtime on the day of the crash and there was nothing out of the ordinary.
The first day of the inquiry heard from Mr Toal's fellow crewman, Mr Telford, who told the inquiry that he hit Mr Clarke and screamed at him while he was slumped unconscious at the wheel.
The court was also shown CCTV footage of the crash, during which some family members chose not to be present.The court was also shown CCTV footage of the crash, during which some family members chose not to be present.
Inquiry focus
The inquiry, which is expected to run for several weeks will examine the medical background, employment record and training of the driver, Mr Clarke.The inquiry, which is expected to run for several weeks will examine the medical background, employment record and training of the driver, Mr Clarke.
It will also look at technical aspects of the vehicle and whether any measures could have brought it to a controlled stop, and the safety of the route taken by the vehicle given the time of day and year.It will also look at technical aspects of the vehicle and whether any measures could have brought it to a controlled stop, and the safety of the route taken by the vehicle given the time of day and year.
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.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.
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.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 further 10 people were injured.A further 10 people were injured.
The Crown Office has already concluded that there will be no criminal prosecution over the crash, with senior lawyers deeming it a "tragic accident".The Crown Office has already concluded that there will be no criminal prosecution over the crash, with senior lawyers deeming it a "tragic accident".