Glasgow City Council have bought the leased bin lorry driven by Harry Clarke to prevent the vehicle being put back on the road by its previous owners.
Mr Clarke lost control of the lorry when he suffered an episode of neurocardiogenic syncope on December 22nd 2014, whereby he temporarily lost consciousness, and was unable to control the movement and direction of the lorry.
Clarke, 61 (then 57) was never prosecuted, although a fatal accident enquiry heard he lied to his employers about his history of blackouts. He had his license revoked on medical grounds for 12 months on 27th June 2015.
Six people died and 15 were injured as the 26-tonne vehicle ploughed into pedestrians after mounting the pavement on Queen Street in Glasgow city centre.
Jack and Lorraine Sweeney, 68 and 69, and their granddaughter Erin McQuade, 18, Stephenie Tait, 29, Jacqueline Morton, 51, and Gillian Ewing, 52, died in the incident.
An investigation by SWD Media has found that the council are still in possession of the Green DAF CF 75-310 lorry. The vehicle was purchased in April 2016, for an undisclosed fee from Imperial Commercial Limited – the lease had been due to end on March 22nd this year.
The vehicle has been stored in a secret location since the FAI (Fatal Accident Enquiry) concluded in December 2015 and although repairable, council chiefs had always hoped to buy the vehicle outright and scrap out of respect to the victims’ families.
The market value for a similar undamaged vehicle is £68,000.
It is not known if the families are aware of the councils plans for the vehicle.
The lorry has a SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) in place with the DVLA, however is still showing as insured on the MID (Motor Insurers Database).
A council spokesman confirmed this week: “Our position remains the same – we feel it is inappropriate to put the vehicle back on the road.”
