FOUR people remain in hospital almost a week after a run-away bin lorry struck and killed pedestrians in the centre of Glasgow days before Christmas.
The tragedy unfolded at 2.30pm last Monday as the refuse truck careered through George Square, horrifying Christmas shoppers and revellers enjoying the square's annual winter carnival.
Six people were killed and four - including a 14-year-old girl, an 18-year-old woman, a 64-year-old woman, and the driver of the lorry - are still being treated in hospital. Three are at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and the driver is at the Western Infirmary. All three female patients are stable, but some are said to have suffered "life-changing" injuries and will require long-term care.
A brother of the 64-year-old woman, who has not been named, said she had no memory of the incident which has left her with multiple broken bones in her left arm and leg, and facial injuries.
A "thorough and exhaustive" police investigation is ongoing to establish the cause of Monday's tragedy, but current testimony points to a freak accident. The nephew of pensioners Jack and Lorraine Sweeney, who died alongside their 18-year-old granddaughter Erin McQuade, stressed that the family did not blame the driver. Erin's mother, Jacqueline, 43, had reportedly gone to a cashline machine when the incident occurred. She has been comforted by husband Matthew, 49, and their younger children Liam, 15, Aidan, 14, and six-year-old daughter Niamh.
Marc Gardiner tweeted: "Been a really emotional and overwhelming day and on behalf of my family I just want to say thank you to everyone around Scotland sending their condolences and best wishes.
"I hope that the other families that are going through what me and my family are get all the support possible and I hope that the driver of the lorry makes a speedy recovery and understands that it wasn't his fault."
The driver, a 57-year-old man who is understood to be in a stable condition, was described by eyewitnesses as "slumped over the wheel" as the bin lorry hurtled along Queen Street.
An off-duty cosmetic surgeon told how he rushed to help one of the victims, primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, from Riddrie.
David Jack, 30, said: "I tried to resuscitate a couple of people, one of which was Stephenie, but it was pretty clear that nothing could be done. It was horrific."
Tributes have also been paid to mother-of-two Gillian Ewing, 52, from Mortonhall in Edinburgh, who was described as friendly and outgoing.
Jacqueline Morton, 51, who worked at Glasgow's central tax office, had left work early to collect her granddaughters when tragedy struck.
Her cousin, Senga Atley, said: "She loved life to the full."
Meanwhile, a candlelit vigil is planned for George Square today. Mourners are being asked to gather at the square from 2pm ahead of a two-minute silence at 2.30pm.
However, there was controversy when it emerged that organiser David Craig has a previous conviction for an online hate campaign against former Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
Craig denied he was hijacking the city's grief, however.
He said: "I wanted to do something because Glasgow is close to my heart."
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