Glasgow bin lorry crash driver admits reckless driving offence
Clarke admits getting behind the wheel nine months after tragedy
The driver of a bin lorry which crashed in Glasgow killing six people has admitted culpable and reckless driving on a separate occasion just nine months after the tragedy.
Harry Clarke, 60, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he pleaded guilty to driving a car in the city on 20 September 2015 to the danger of the public, despite his licence having been revoked for medical reasons.
Six people died in December 2014 when the refuse lorry lost control in Glasgow city centre.
He admitted driving in the knowledge he had suffered a loss of consciousness while at the wheel of a moving refuse collection vehicle on 22 December, 2014, resulting in the deaths and leaving 15 more people injured.
Healsoknewhehadsuffered a loss of consciousness or episode of altered awareness while at the wheel of a stationary bus on 7 April, 2010.
His licence had been revoked for 12 months on 27 June, 2015 and the charge states that he knew or ought to have known that he was unfit to drive, and that there was a risk he might lose consciousness or suffer an episode of altered awareness while driving.
Clarke was not prosecuted over the crash. .
Relatives of three crash vic- tims sought permission from senior judges to bring charges against him in a private prosecution. However, judges at the Appeal Court in Edinburgh ruled in November last year the family could not launch a private prosecution.
Jack and Lorraine Sweeney, 68 and 69, and their granddaughter Erin Mcquade, 18, Stephenie Tait, 29, Jacqueline Morton, 51, and Gillian Ewing, 52, died in the incident.
A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) heard Mr Clarke had a histo- ry of health issues but had not disclosed his medical background to his employers or the DVLA.
Sheriff John Beckett QC, who chaired the FAI, ruled the crash might have been avoided if Clarke had told the truth about his medical history.
Senior fiscal depute Martin Allan told the court that a neighbour spotted Clarke driving out of the car park of his home in the Baillieston area of Glasgow at around 8pm on the evening of 20 September 2015 and called the police. He said: “Mr Clarke was rummaging in the boot of his car and the neighbour went home and told his girlfriend and they looked out of the window.
“After watching for 30 seconds to two minutes, both saw the accused get into the driver’s seat, switch on the lights and drive out of the car park onto Buchanan Street. Both were suspicious about his ability to drive.”
“Both saw the accused get into the driver’s seat, switch on the lights and drive out of the car park onto Buchanan Street” MARTIN ALLAN