I survived Glasgow’s bin lorry crash, victims are still a part of me 10 years on

A SURVIVOR of Glasgow's bin lorry disaster has paid tribute to the six "beautiful souls" who lost their lives -- ten years on from the horrific tragedy. Elaine Morell, 59, was the first person struck by the runaway council truck[1] after driver Harry Clarke, 67, blacked out at the wheel and ploughed through crowds of Christmas shoppers.

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She was left seriously injured but feels lucky to be alive. And she told how her thoughts always turn at this time of year to the victims who died in the city's George Square on December 22, 2014 -- Jaqueline Morton, 51, Lorraine Sweeney, 69, Jack Sweeney, 68, Erin McQuade, 18[2], Stephenie Tait, 29, and Gillian Ewing, 52.

The sales worker, from nearby Kirkintilloch, said: "Those six people are part of my being and my entity and are always with me and always will be. I never met them but they are within me. "We all must come together and remember the six beautiful souls who didn't come home that day and also remember their families.

"I'd say to them, 'Glasgow[3] will never forget you and I will carry you within me for the rest of my life.'"

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Elaine was on her lunch break when she was hit by the runaway truck, which mounted the pavement for 19 seconds at a speed of 25mph. The 26-tonne vehicle only stopped after slamming into the Millennium Hotel at Queen Street train station -- leaving behind a trail of carnage. Shuddering at the thought, Elaine recalled: "I'd just left the jeweller's I worked in to go look for Christmas[4] presents.

"Next thing I knew I was waking up in hospital, where I was told what had happened. "I feel I died that day and woke up again. It's a very strange feeling."

She suffered multiple facial fractures as well as severe injuries to her eye and head. It's understood a by- stander performed CPR as she lay unconscious because they thought she was dead. Since then Elaine has suffered from numbness, panic attacks and loss of balance.

She secured a six-figure compensation payout from Glasgow City Council.

And last year she and husband Steven, 62, celebrated becoming grandparents after their son Luke, 34, became dad to twin boys. But Elaine explained she wasn't able to return to her old job in an office overlooking the crash scene. She said: "I couldn't cope with the proximity to the accident site and I was also devastated that someone had been employed in my place while I was recovering.

"I was hurt and sad. I felt I was surplus to requirements. So sad.

So hurt. I now work in John Lewis part-time. It's filled with lovely supportive staff.

"But Glaswegians are amazing. Their support and love has helped me so much, especially in the early days and years. "Last year I met a young police officer who was one of the first on the scene that day.

He had administered first aid. We chatted briefly and hugged.

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 GBP6.5m claim against Clarke's former employer First Bus over Glasgow bin lorry crash "But hearing the first Christmas carol of the year brings it all back." Elaine's thoughts this weekend will be with the loved ones of the six victims.

Erin McQuade was killed alongside her grandparents Jack and Lorraine Sweeney, of Dumbarton. Jacqueline Morton, of Glasgow, had finished work early to pick up her two granddaughters when she was fatally hit. Gillian Ewing died as she headed for a train home to Edinburgh[5] after a day's shopping with her daughter Lucy, 24.

And primary school teacher Stephenie Tait was knocked down and killed just a day after she'd attended a carol concert at her local church in Glasgow.

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Other badly hurt in the horror included Alix Stewart[6], 24, who was dragged 50 metres under the truck and suffered a broken spine, fractured ribs, collarbone and femur, damage to her liver and kidneys as well as her right ear being ripped off. While Marie Weatherall, 74, was knocked unconscious and broke her left arm and left leg Clarke, from Baillieston, was never prosecuted[7] over the crash.

The Crown Office insisted there was insufficient evidence to raise criminal proceedings. It was claimed Clarke previously fainted while working as a bus driver and failed to disclose it when he joined the council. A fatal accident inquiry into the deaths heard that he'd made more than 300 visits to doctors and GPs since 1976[8] with a number of issues being raised including dizziness, persistent headaches, anxiety, vertigo and depression.

The inquiry also heard DVLA officials withdrew his car licence for one year and banned him from driving HGVs for 10 years in 2015. He was then arrested for driving a car in September 2015[9] despite having his licence revoked on health grounds. Clarke was spotted behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Corsa and disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community work, along with supervision for a year.

He was tagged for four months and ordered to stay in his house from 7pm and 7am. A year later relatives of victims Erin McQuade and her grandparents Lorraine and Jack Sweeney pursued a private prosecution against the bin lorry driver. But their petition wasn't approved by judges Lady Dorrian, Lord Menzies and Lord Drummond Young.

Glasgow City Council later sued First Bus, the former employers of Clarke, over the job reference the firm provided, claiming the company failed to disclose he lost consciousness at the wheel in 2010.

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But the legal bid to recover GBP6.5million was thrown out by a judge because evidence showed the council failed to chase up the firm's HR department.

The family of bin lorry crash victim Gillian Ewing agreed an GBP800,000 compensation deal with the council while the loved ones of Stephenie Tait reached an agreement for more than GBP900,000.

References

1. ^ struck by the runaway council truck (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
2. ^ Lorraine Sweeney, 69, Jack Sweeney, 68, Erin McQuade, 18 (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
3. ^ Glasgow (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
4. ^ Christmas (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
5. ^ Edinburgh (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
6. ^ Alix Stewart (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
7. ^ Clarke, from Baillieston, was never prosecuted (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
8. ^ 300 visits to doctors and GPs since 1976 (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
9. ^ arrested for driving a car in September 2015 (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)