Six killed in UK as lorry hits crowd
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon looks at the floral tributes left by members of the public for victims who perished when a bin lorry ploughed into crowds of Christmas shoppers in what appeared to be a tragic accident on December 23, 2014, which left six dead and eight others injured. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- One eyewitness described the vehicle knocking people down “like pinballs” as it veered out of control over a distance of around 300 metres, only stopping when it crashed into a hotel.
- He said the driver, who reported by some British media to have slumped at the wheel and perhaps to have suffered a heart attack, was being treated in hospital.
LONDON
Six people were killed and eight others injured in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday when a bin lorry ploughed into crowds of Christmas shoppers in what appeared to be a tragic accident.
One eyewitness described the vehicle knocking people down “like pinballs” as it veered out of control over a distance of around 300 metres, only stopping when it crashed into a hotel.
“Sadlyx six people have died as a result of the George Square major road incident,” read a tweet on the Scottish police force’s official account.
Police superintendent Stewart Carle told reporters at the scene that people were killed over “a number of sites”.
He said the driver, who reported by some British media to have slumped at the wheel and perhaps to have suffered a heart attack, was being treated in hospital.
KNOCKED LIKE PINBALLS
An investigation was under way to establish exactly what had happened, police said.
“The bin lorry just lost control. It went along the pavement, knocking everyone like pinballs,” eyewitness Melanie Greig told Sky News.
“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?” she said.
She added: “There was noise, bangs, screams and everything. It was just horrific.”
The rubbish truck, owned by Glasgow City Council, mounted the pavement and hit the first pedestrian outside the Gallery of Modern Art on Queen Street at about 2:30 pm, police said.
