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Six people killed as Glasgow bin lorry crashes into pedestrians Six people killed as Glasgow bin lorry crashes into pedestrians
(35 minutes later)
Six people have been confirmed dead after an out-of-control bin lorry crashed into a group of pedestrians in the centre of Glasgow. Six people have been killed and eight were seriously injured after an out-of-control bin lorry ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians and shoppers in Glasgow city centre.
The incident happened as the city centre was crowded with Christmas shoppers on Monday. Witnesses described bodies lying in the road. The lethal accident happened at around 2.30pm on Monday on busy George Square, when the area was teeming with last-minute Christmas shoppers and visitors to the ice rink and amusements in the square.
Police Scotland declared a major incident. At least seven people were seriously injured. Eyewitnesses said that in the space of a few seconds, a city council bin lorry that had been travelling up Queen Street, which bounds the west side of George Square, suddenly mounted the pavement, scattering pedestrians “like pinballs” in the words of several onlookers .
A police statement said: “A Glasgow city council bin lorry was travelling north on Queen Street when it appeared to strike pedestrians outside the Gallery of Modern Art before continuing to travel towards George Square, when it crashed at the Millennium hotel on Queen Street at George Square.” The 14-tonne refuse truck then returned to the road and only came to rest when it crashed into the side of the Millennium Hotel, on the north edge of the square.
Supt Stewart Carle said: “For now it does not look to be a criminal or deliberate act that has taken place here this afternoon, but we need to have time to investigate it.” Police Scotland said there was no evidence of a criminal or deliberate act. Witnesses said the driver appeared slumped at the wheel after the vehicle had come to rest; police have not confirmed whether he was among those who died.
Witnesses said they saw the bin lorry driver slumped at the wheel. Carle said the driver had been taken to hospital and was receiving treatment, but would not comment on what he was being treated for. Witness Anjam Luthra described scenes of panic as people tried to get out of path of the careering lorry. “The lorry mounted the pavement and was just dragging everything with it. People started dialling 999 immediately. I saw at least two people lying in the middle of the street; they were getting CPR.”
Carle said: “It’s difficult for all the emergency services but particularly for those people who have been in Glasgow today shopping and getting ready for Christmas. There will be a lot of distressed people. Alison Keith was shopping close by when the accident happened. “By the time I got round the corner there were people trying to help the injured. It was horrific. There were people crying and shouting.” She said it appeared that the driver, who was taken to hospital, had lost control of the vehicle.
“But our officers, the ambulance officers, the fire officers, the city council officers, they are all working together as quickly as possible to bring the scene to a conclusion.” A comedian, Janey Godley, who entered the square just after the accident took place, posted a photograph of traffic poles flattened to the ground by the force of the vehicle.
One witness, Melanie Greg, told Sky News the lorry had travelled 150 yards along the pavement until it crashed into a building. Speaking to the Mirror, Godley said: “It was like something out of a horror movie. The traffic poles in Queen Street were bent like straws as they had been run over by vehicles. I heard there was a taxi involved as well as the bin lorry and when I reached the scene I couldn’t see the bin lorry.
She said: “The bin lorry just lost control. It went along the pavement, knocking everyone like pinballs. There was a baby in a buggy, and it just continued knocking people down until it ended up in the building. “I saw one person on the ground being given CPR in Queen Street and then another two. It was really awful and you could hear the screams above the sirens.”
“The only way it stopped was hitting the building. People were trying to run out of the way. But when something was coming out behind them like that, how can they run out of the way?” Findlay Mair, 23, a journalist who witnesses the scene, said: “I saw one girl who had been hit, lying on the ground. She got up, and blood was pouring from her mouth, then she went down again. She was young, of student age. She just screamed, and screamed, and then fell down again. She had terrible injuries.”
Up to six ambulances were at the scene on Monday afternoon, along with the police and fire service. Roads surrounding the city centre have been closed. Speaking to the Telegraph, Mair added: “There was Christmas shopping littered everywhere, among the bodies and bits of the vehicle. And there was blood everywhere. Time seemed to stand still. It was a terrible, terrible scene.”
Describing the scene on Twitter, the comedian Janey Godley said: “Utter horrific carnage, people on ground getting triage.” The bulk of the casualties are believed to have occurred between the Gallery of Modern Art and George Square, a distance of around 250 metres.
Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, tweeted: “My thoughts with everyone involved in dreadful George Square incident. If you are in city centre, please let your relatives know you are OK.” As the emergency services arrived, crowds flocked around the hastily erected police cordon. One woman wept as she tried to establish the whereabouts of her husband.
The prime minister, David Cameron, tweeted: “I’m being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved and the emergency services.” It is the second major tragedy to hit Scotland’s largest city in the last couple of years. Last November, 10 people lost their lives when a police helicopter crashed into the popular Clutha Vaults pub on the north bank of the River Clyde, not far from Monday’s incident.
Local MSP Sandra White, who lives nearby, came to the scene as soon as she heard about the crash and described the sense of shock in the city centre.
“People have been saying: ‘Please no, not another tragedy a year after the Clutha Vaults’. People are coming into the town centre at this time of year to enjoy themselves and see the shows, go shopping, and a tragedy like this happens, it really is shocking.”
I'm being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved & the emergency services.I'm being kept fully briefed on the major incident in Glasgow. My thoughts are with the families of those involved & the emergency services.
The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said: “Terrible news from Glasgow – my thoughts are with all those affected by this horrific accident.” Witnesses are being interviewed by detectives to establish the sequence of events. Police Scotland appealed for people still in the city centre to call their loved ones and let them know that they were safe, in order to keep their helpline clear for those who need it.
The Scotland secretary, Alistair Carmichael, said: “I share Scotland’s deep shock at the horrible events in Glasgow this afternoon. On the eve of the festive period, these are unimaginable scenes in one of the busiest parts of our largest city. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, described the tragedy as “another sad day for Glasgow and Scotland”.
“My thoughts are with the bereaved, the emergency services dealing with the aftermath and everyone affected by this terrible incident.” She said: “My thoughts are with everyone involved in this tragic incident. As ever, Scotland’s emergency services have responded in a swift and professional manner and I would encourage everyone to let them get on with their vitally important roles.
The local MSP Sandra White, who lives nearby in the Merchant City, came to the scene as soon as she heard about the crash. “People are pretty shocked at the tragedy,” she said. “People have been saying please no, not another tragedy a year after the Clutha Vaults. People are coming into the town centre at this time of year to enjoy themselves and see the shows, and a tragedy like this happens. It really is shocking.” The Scottish Conservatives’ leader, Ruth Davidson, who was Christmas shopping in nearby Argyle Street at the time, also praised the swift response of the emergency services, saying: “It would appear that the response, just like last year with the Clutha disaster, by passersby, pedestrians, normal Glaswegians has been magnificent.
As darkness fell, visitors to the police cordon began to leave flowers at the scene. Kevin Ainslie, a 28-year-old office worker, first heard about the accident from friends on social media. “It’s really devastating. It’s so sad for everyone involved and it’s the same time of year as the Clutha Vaults.”
Police Scotland have set up a number for anyone who has concerns that their family and friends may be involved in the incident, which is 01786 289070.
Serious accident involving a bin lorry at george squ.At least 5 cars damaged, ambulance taken patients to hospital. pic.twitter.com/rXX13yqOPkSerious accident involving a bin lorry at george squ.At least 5 cars damaged, ambulance taken patients to hospital. pic.twitter.com/rXX13yqOPk
As darkness fell, with the police cordon still in place around George Square, members of the public arrived to leave bouquets of flowers for the dead and injured. With the majority of emergency service vehicles gone from the scene, an uneasy calm descended as the square’s usually buzzing amusements stood idle.
Paula Stern, a teacher who had been enjoying an afternoon out with friends in Glasgow, said that the city centre felt strange. “It’s an eerie feeling. People are still out and about but they’re quiet. I think everyone feels like they should be at home with their family and friends tonight.”