LONDON: Six people were killed and at least seven others injured in Glasgow on Monday when a bin lorry ploughed into crowds of Christmas shoppers in what appeared to be a tragic accident.

One eyewitness described the vehicle knocking people down “like pinballs” as it veered out of control over a distance of around 300 metres, only stopping when it crashed into a hotel.

“Sadly six people have died as a result of the George Square major road incident,” read a tweet on the Scottish police force’s official account.

A police spokeswoman in Glasgow confirmed the six fatalities and said that at least seven people were also injured. Emergency services cordoned off the normally bustling area in what is Scotland’s biggest city.

Police superintendent Stewart Carle told reporters at the scene that people were killed over “a number of sites”. He said that the driver, who was reported by some British media as having suffered a heart attack, was being treated in hospital.

“The bin lorry just lost control. It went along the pavement, knocking everyone like pinballs,” eyewitness Melanie Greg told Sky News.

“People were trying to run out of the way but when something was coming out behind them like that, how can they run out of the way?” she said.

She added: “There was noise, bangs, screams and everything. It was just horrific.” The rubbish truck, owned by Glasgow City Council, mounted the pavement and hit the first pedestrian outside the Gallery

of Modern Art on Queen Street at about 2:30 pm (1430 GMT), police said.

Published in Dawn December 23th , 2014