THE man behind the wheel of the bin lorry that killed six people when it careered out of control in the centre of Glasgow was an experienced professional driver for many years.

 

 

As Police Scotland prepare to submit their report on the incident to the Crown Office, it has emerged that Harry Clarke had previously been employed by the country's largest bus firm and had a series of driving jobs with Glasgow City Council.

The 58-year-old from Glasgow was a driver with cleansing teams since 2012 and for some time before that had driven gritters for the authority.

Mr Clarke had also been employed by the city council driving children with additional support for learning needs after joining the authority in 2011.

It is understood he had been a driver with First Bus for a number of years before that.

Eyewitnesses said he appeared to have fallen ill at the wheel of the vehicle and was slumped over during the incident.

He had been treated at the city's Western Infirmary since the tragedy on December 22, when the vehicle crashed in George Square but was released a fortnight later.

No details of any health issues or the cause of any illness which may have triggered the crash have emerged.

A source said: "The driver would have needed to have been through several health checks in the last few years. He would have been required to pass tests with his previous employer, would have required a clean bill of health to satisfy the DVLA for a HGV licence and then passed whatever additional tests Glasgow City Council carry out."

It is also understood no health issues have been communicated between Mr Clarke's previous and current employers.

Police are continuing to investigate what caused the driver to lose control of the refuse truck and hit Christmas shoppers on Queen Street before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel.

They said at the time of the incident that there was no suggestion that what happened was deliberate.

In the days immediately after the crash a relative of the three family members killed in the tragedy said he did not blame the driver for their deaths and wished him a speedy recovery.

Police Scotland said recently that officers investigating the crash would complete a formal private report by the end of the month.

Justice Minister Michael Matheson said he expected the Crown Office to outline a timescale for any further investigation by the end of February. No decision has been taken on whether a Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held although there have been reports one will be fast tracked.

Glasgow City Council has previously insisted that no new training regimes for refuse collecting crews on how to stop vehicles in an emergency have been implemented following the George Square crash.

Trade union leaders have also dismissed the notion of a 'dead man's handle' in the vehicle.

Earlier this week relatives of three of the victims from the same family paid tribute to the "truly overwhelming" support they have received.

In an advert, the family of John Sweeney, 68, from Dumbarton, wife Helen, and their 18-year-old granddaughter Erin McQuade, showed their appreciation to all those who helped from the emergency services who attended, Police Scotland, and staff of Glasgow City Council to people and passers-by who came to their aid on Monday 22 December.

Primary school teacher Stephenie Tait, 29, and tax worker Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, were also killed in the crash.