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| Glasgow bin lorry crash driver denied blacking out | Glasgow bin lorry crash driver denied blacking out |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the bin lorry crash which killed six people in Glasgow has heard the driver told a nurse he had not blacked out. | A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the bin lorry crash which killed six people in Glasgow has heard the driver told a nurse he had not blacked out. |
| Lauren Mykoliw was off duty when she helped out in the aftermath of the crash on 22 December 2014. | Lauren Mykoliw was off duty when she helped out in the aftermath of the crash on 22 December 2014. |
| She told Glasgow Sheriff Court that the bin lorry driver, Harry Clarke, could not remember what had happened but said he had not blacked out. | She told Glasgow Sheriff Court that the bin lorry driver, Harry Clarke, could not remember what had happened but said he had not blacked out. |
| The inquiry is examining the lorry, its route and Mr Clarke's health. | The inquiry is examining the lorry, its route and Mr Clarke's health. |
| Ms Mykoliw was giving evidence on the fourth day of the FAI, which is being overseen by Sheriff John Beckett QC at Glasgow Sheriff Court. | Ms Mykoliw was giving evidence on the fourth day of the FAI, which is being overseen by Sheriff John Beckett QC at Glasgow Sheriff Court. |
| She said she was shopping near George Square when she heard a loud bang and then saw that a bin lorry had crashed into the Millennium Hotel. | She said she was shopping near George Square when she heard a loud bang and then saw that a bin lorry had crashed into the Millennium Hotel. |
| Heart question | Heart question |
| The witness said she went to assist the driver of a silver car, then, about five minutes after the crash, the lorry driver. | The witness said she went to assist the driver of a silver car, then, about five minutes after the crash, the lorry driver. |
| Ms Mykoliw said she climbed up into the lorry, via the passenger side, and started speaking to the driver, who was conscious and sitting upright, with his seatbelt on. | Ms Mykoliw said she climbed up into the lorry, via the passenger side, and started speaking to the driver, who was conscious and sitting upright, with his seatbelt on. |
| She asked him if he felt unwell and remembered what had happened, before adding "He asked me if he'd had a heart attack." | She asked him if he felt unwell and remembered what had happened, before adding "He asked me if he'd had a heart attack." |
| Ms Mykoliw said the driver told her he remembered sitting at traffic lights, then waking up where he was. | Ms Mykoliw said the driver told her he remembered sitting at traffic lights, then waking up where he was. |
| The witness described the driver as "pale" and "sweaty". She undid his belt and shirt as he was breathing heavily but in no pain. | The witness described the driver as "pale" and "sweaty". She undid his belt and shirt as he was breathing heavily but in no pain. |
| Ms Mykoliw said she saw three beer bottles in the cab and asked the driver if he had been drinking. He said no. | Ms Mykoliw said she saw three beer bottles in the cab and asked the driver if he had been drinking. He said no. |
| She said she asked him if he had blacked out but he replied that he had not. | She said she asked him if he had blacked out but he replied that he had not. |
| The nurse said that Mr Clarke "kept repeating himself" that he had not blacked out, but did not remember what had happened. | The nurse said that Mr Clarke "kept repeating himself" that he had not blacked out, but did not remember what had happened. |
| The FAI next heard from paramedic Ronald Hewitson who tended to Mr Clarke after the crash. | |
| Driver 'confused' | Driver 'confused' |
| He said the driver was lying on the ground when he first saw him and "seemed confused, slightly pale". | He said the driver was lying on the ground when he first saw him and "seemed confused, slightly pale". |
| Mr Hewitson said he examined Mr Clarke. This included taking blood pressure and an ECG test. | Mr Hewitson said he examined Mr Clarke. This included taking blood pressure and an ECG test. |
| He said his blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse and oxygen saturation were all within normal levels. | |
| The witness added: "He was alert. Everything seemed to be fine, he was slightly confused and didn't actually remember what had happened." | The witness added: "He was alert. Everything seemed to be fine, he was slightly confused and didn't actually remember what had happened." |
| The paramedic said Mr Clarke asked him if he was having heart problems and confirmed that he was taking medication for gout. | |
| Mr Hewitson told the driver he had no symptoms consistent with a heart attack. | Mr Hewitson told the driver he had no symptoms consistent with a heart attack. |
| The witness also said there was no smell of alcohol from the driver or lorry. | The witness also said there was no smell of alcohol from the driver or lorry. |
| 'Complacent' assessment | |
| The inquiry later heard from Robert Soutar, manager of the Glasgow bin lorry depot in Anderston. | |
| He explained that the two crew members worked under him at the depot, but the driver, Mr Clarke, was based elsewhere. | |
| Mr Sourat told the FAI there was no training given about what to do if one of the crew was taken unwell. | |
| The witness agreed that he signed off on the route risk assessment as "appropriate". | |
| Under cross-examination, from Mark Stewart QC, for the bereaved McQuade and Sweeney families, Mr Soutar agreed that the route risk assessment detailed the dangers to pedestrians of a stationary vehicle but not one that was in transit. | |
| Mr Stewart QC added: "There is nothing but complacency about the application of lessons that could be learned from a proper risk assessment by Glasgow City Council." | |
| Safety measures | |
| When cross-examined by the council's QC, Peter Gray, Mr Soutar confirmed that control measures were in place included in-house training, safety devices such as seatbelts and extensions, driver monitoring and inspections, along with quarterly driving licence checks. | |
| Asked if he felt the measures in place amounted to a "lazy, casual approach to safety", the witness replied "no." | |
| 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". |