Glasgow lorry crash tragedy comes a year after fatal helicopter crash

Helicopter crashed into Clutha Vaults bar in Glasgow, killing 10 people, on 29 November last year

File photo, dated 30 November, at the scene of the helicopter crash at the Clutha Bar in Glasgow (PA)

Yesterday’s lorry crash came just over a year after a police helicopter plunged into the Clutha Vaults bar in Glasgow, killing 10 people. There were reported to be around 120 people in the building, in which a band was playing, on 29 November 2013.

The helicopter had been involved in a search for a suspected trespasser on railway lines around a mile south of the bar. A few minutes before the crash, the pilot had received clearance from air traffic control to return to Glasgow City Heliport.

The crash killed helicopter pilot David Traill and PCs Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis, who were on board.

Those killed in the pub were Robert Jenkins, Mark O’Prey, Colin Gibson, John McGarrigle, Gary Arthur and Samuel McGhee. Joe Cusker was pulled from the rubble alive but died in hospital 13 days later.

Thirty-two people were treated for injuries; 11 of them were seriously wounded.

The owner of the Clutha, Alan Crossan, has described the crash as “shocking” and said he still struggles to cope with the reality of what happened.