Police: 'serious incident' unfolding in Glasgow (Several pedestrians killed in Glasgow bin lorry crash)

[Teh One Who Knocks]

The Associated Press


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LONDON (AP) — Police say an "ongoing serious incident" is unfolding in the city center of Glasgow in Scotland.

Emergency services responded Monday to reports that a truck has crashed into a group of pedestrians.

The incident happened near George Square in the central part of the city. Surrounding roads have been closed.

At least six ambulances were on the scene.

Police weren't immediately able to give further details about the situation.

The city center was thronged with Christmas shoppers at the time of the incident. The truck hit the side of the Millennium Hotel.

[Goofy]

:shock:

[Goofy]

Several pedestrians killed in Glasgow bin lorry crash

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Several people have been killed and several others injured after an out of control bin lorry crashed into pedestrians in central Glasgow.

The council vehicle then crashed into the Millennium Hotel, near Queen Street station in George Square, at 14:30.

Eyewitnesses described emergency services battling to save the lives of injured people on the street.

Police Scotland have declared a major incident but said there appears to be nothing "sinister" about the crash.

Police said: "About 1430 hours 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 Millennium Hotel on Queen Street at George Square.

"There have been a number of fatalities and people injured. Emergency services are currently at the scene. Police have declared the scene a major incident.

"All roads in the surrounding area are closed and people are advised to stay away from George Square and make alternative travel arrangements."

Supt Stewart Carle of Police Scotland said: "With all the drama of these people may be alarmed and believed it to be something other than what we believe it to be.

"It is a road traffic collision with multiple fatalities. It is a terrible incident but we don't believe there is anything at this juncture that is sinister about the accident."

Supt Carroll said there was a "multiple agency response" from fire, ambulance and police, as well as Glasgow City Council and other support agencies.

He said "the seriously injured and the injured have been taken to the three Glasgow major incident sites".

"We've declared a major incident and we're working with our partners as quickly as possible to resolve the situation and to identify those who have lost their lives and to be there to support their families and next of kin."

Eyewitnesses reported the bin lorry moving at speed up Queen Street before crashing into the Millennium Hotel. Casualties were seen lying on the road.

BBC Scotland's Laura Bicker said: "What we have heard from eyewitnesses is that the bin lorry appears to have careered out of control and hit a number of people.

"We've also heard from one witness who described the driver of the bin lorry as "slumped over the wheel".
'Fighting for lives'

Witness Janey Godley told the BBC News Channel that people were "getting CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the ground" when she arrived in the square.

"I think I was there just as the ambulances arrived, because there was stuff strewn, debris strewn, all over the street, Christmas shopping all over the street," she said.

Ms Godley said she saw three people being treated by emergency crews.

She said: "People were being worked on, people were fighting for their lives on the pavement as shoppers were standing.

"People just like me had arrived on the most shocking scene they ever wanted to see this Christmas. George Square is a square with a fairground and an ice rink and Santa and the tree and everything."

Ms Godley added: "It was the most horrible thing to watch all the ambulances and the people in the street, and yet the fairground in the background, and people just in shock."

She said it was "an awful tragic thing to happen at this time of year".
'Eerie place'

Restaurant owner George Smith told BBC Scotland: "It [the lorry] started from the bottom of Royal Exchange Square and crashed into the wall at the Millennium Hotel.

"A customer walked into our restaurant and told us what happened outside. We walked outside and in the first five minutes the first ambulance arrived.

"The police and ambulance arrived quite fast. I was quite surprised because they were very, very fast."

Describing the scene on Twitter, Brett Molloy tweeted: "Whole of George square is shut off, bodies on the road. Scary man.

"Horrible, horrible scenes. Even worse at this time of the year.

"City centre is an eerie, eerie place right now."

Kevin @km747 tweeted: "Horrific scenes in George Square. Here now and it's clear to say lives have been lost."

A large number of emergency vehicles are in attendance and roads surrounding George Square have been closed.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Firefighters are in attendance at a serious incident on Queen Street.

"We received a 999 call at 2.30pm reporting a collision and currently have five appliances at the scene.

"Our crews are working alongside other emergency responders to conduct a rescue operation."

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "Along with all the emergency services, we have an emergency plan that automatically kicks in when there is a major incident."
'Dreadful incident'

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "My thoughts are with everyone involved in the dreadful George Square incident."

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson was in Glasgow at the time of the accident and paid tribute to the way people reacted.

She said: "I was in Argyle Street doing my Christmas shopping.

"It would appear that the response, just like last year with the Clutha disaster, by passers-by, pedestrians, normal Glaswegians has been magnificent.

"They came to aid at the very beginning. They stopped traffic as soon as the emergency services got there.

"They followed all instructions. They did everything that they could."

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[redred]

shit :shock:

[Goofy]

What a shame :(

[Goofy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-30573149

[Goofy]

Sounds like the driver had a heart attack or similar :(

[Goofy]

Eyewitness: Lorry 'flattened bodies' on pavement

Posted at 16:33

Anjan Luthra witnessed the crash. He told BBC News: "I work in George Square and had nipped out for lunch, and was in the queue in Greggs. All of a sudden I heard this screaming and quite a consistent racket.

"I ran out of the store and right directly across from me, I was just watching a very very heavy bin lorry just flatten bodies on the pavement. It was driving along the pavement and taking everything along with it, and then it went across the street.

"Immediately people started calling 999, and started directing traffic.

"There were two bodies right in the centre of the T-junction who were getting CPR mouth-to-mouth and there were some bodies that were so fatally injured that you couldn't really do anything."

Jeez :(

[RBP]

Yeek! :rip: