The incident also left a further eight people with serious injuries, Police Scotland has confirmed, including the vehicle’s driver. The collision occurred close to Glasgow’s Queen Street Station at George Square, one of the busiest areas of the city centre, at just after 2:30pm.
Police have confirmed that the vehicle was travelling North on Queen Street and crashed into the Millennium Hotel. The vehicle was a 6-wheeler with a trade lift and has Glasgow city council branding on its body.
In a statement Police Scotland said: “About 2:30 pm today, Monday 22 December 2014 a Glasgow city council bin lorry was travelling north on Queen Street when it appeared to strike pedestrians outside the Gallery of Modern Art before continuing to travel towards George Square, when it crashed at the Millenium Hotel on Queen Street at George Square.
“There have been a number of fatalities and people injuried.”
Fatalities
Police Scotland confirmed that all of the casualties, including the driver of the vehicle were taken to the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Western Infirmary.
Assistant chief constable Wayne Mawson added: “This is a tragic incident which has taken place at a very busy time in the centre of our city. Please be assured my officers and other members of the emergency services will do everything they can to respond to this collision.”
One waste industry health and safety expert commented: “If there are fatalities in the Glasgow incident, it is unclear whether these will be recorded as falling within the remit of the waste sector. It may be deemed as a road traffic accident or could come under the RIDDOR reporting regime. Determining which approach is taken is something of a grey area.”
Glasgow council
Glasgow council leader councillor Gordon Matheson described the incident as a ‘terrible tragedy’.
He said: “This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, particularly the families of those who have lost their lives.
“My priority now is to do what we can to support everyone involved and to give every assistance to the police and other emergency services as they investigate this incident and care for those who are injured.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added: “My thoughts are with everyone involved in this tragic incident, and especially with the friends and families of the six people who lost their lives in what is another sad day for Glasgow and Scotland.”
Updated: 10:00 23 December
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