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'NOT A DAY GOES BY'
Glasgow’s bin lorry horror driver Harry Clarke still ‘haunted’ by the deaths ‘everyday’ ten years on
The 67-year-old blacked out at the wheel and ploughed his lorry through crowds of Christmas shoppers in 2014
BIN lorry horror driver Harry Clarke insists he is still haunted by the six deaths tragedy ten years ago.
Mr Clarke, 67, said he thinks every day of the victims of the Glasgow disaster.
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It happened when he passed out “like a light switch” at the wheel and struck the Millennium Hotel in George Square.
He told us: “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the victims and the people who were injured.”
Killed in the accident were Lorraine Sweeney, 69, Jack Sweeney, 68, Gillian Ewing, 52, Jaqueline Morton, 51, Stephenie Tait, 29, and 18-year-old Erin McQuade.
Another 15 were hurt.
It was alleged that Mr Clarke had a history of fainting while working as a bus driver and did not tell council bosses.
The Crown Office ruled there was insufficient evidence to prosecute, but his licence was revoked in 2015 and he was banned from driving HGVs for 10 years.
Harry Clarke crash timeline
DECEMBER 22, 2014: Bin lorry driven by Harry Clarke ploughs into pedestrians out Christmas shopping in the centre of Glasgow, killing six people and injuring 15.
FEBRUARY 2015: Prosecutors reveal no one will be prosecuted over the crash.
JUNE 2015: The DVLA withdraws Clarke’s car-driving licence for medical reasons and bans him from driving heavy goods vehicles for ten years.
AUGUST 2015: Clarke causes fury while giving evidence at a fatal accident inquiry by refusing to answer the vast majority of questions.
OCTOBER 2015: Clarke resigns from Glasgow City Council.
DECEMBER 2015: Inquiry report said the crash could have been avoided if Clarke had not lied about health.
APRIL 2017: Clarke escapes jail after admitting getting behind the wheel of his car in September 2015 while banned by the DVLA.
DECEMBER 2019: Clarke says he would “jump off a bridge” if he felt responsible for the six deaths.
SEPTEMBER 2021: Doctor told a court he had been misled on Clarke’s medical history before the tragedy.
JANUARY 2022: Glasgow city council lose £6.5m claim against Clarke’s former employer First Bus over Glasgow bin lorry crash
Mr Clarke, from Baillieston, was then arrested for illegally driving a car, tagged and disqualified for three years and ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.
His admission that he thinks of the victims daily comes after survivor Elaine Morrel shared her heartache with us.
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The gran, 59, was the first person hit by the lorry.
She suffered multiple facial fractures.
Glasgow bin lorry crash: Church service marks anniversary
Elaine, who lives with husband Steven, 62, in Kirkintilloch, said: “The six people who lost their lives are always with me.
“We must all come together and remember those beautiful souls who didn’t go home that day.
“Glasgow will never forget you.”
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