Glasgow Bin Lorry Driver Not Unwell Before Crash, Inquiry Hears

Glasgow Bin Lorry Driver Not Unwell Before Crash, Inquiry Hears
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The driver of the bin lorry that crashed killing six people in Glasgow city centre did not feel unwell before the incident, an inquiry has heard.

Off-duty nurse Lauren Mykoliw was at the festive market in George Square when the tragedy occurred three days before Christmas last year.

The 28-year-old said she heard a loud bang and thought something had happened to the big wheel in the square before realising that the bin lorry had crashed.

She first helped a taxi driver before climbing into the bin lorry where she started speaking to driver Harry Clarke, who she said was conscious and still had his seatbelt on.

Ms Mykoliw said he told her that he could not remember what happened but also said he did not feel unwell or had blacked out before the crash.

Mr Clarke asked the off-duty nurse if he had a heart attack.

She told the fatal accident inquiry: "I asked if he felt unwell before the crash and had blacked out. He answered no."

She added: "He said he remembered sitting at the traffic lights, then woke up where he was. He was pale and looked like he had a shock."

Erin McQuade, 18, and her grandparents Jack Sweeney, 68, and Lorraine Sweeney, 69, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, were struck and killed by the lorry.

Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, also died.

The inquiry has also heard from paramedic Ronald Hewitson, who was one of the first people on the scene.

He said Mr Clarke was lying on the ground in front of the lorry by the time he arrived and he took the driver's blood pressure, oxygen saturation and asked if he could do an ECG.

He said: "From the checks we did there was nothing obvious. I asked him if he took any medication but I can't remember his answer."

Mr Hewitson, 52, said Mr Clarke told him the last thing he could remember was someone shaking him after the crash.

Mr Clarke also asked the paramedic if he had had a heart attack.

Mr Hewitson said: "I believe I explained that tests showed that he hadn't had one but that they would need to take blood at the hospital."