The driver of a bin lorry that killed six people in Glasgow city centre three days before Christmas last year has resigned in advance of disciplinary action.
Harry Clarke was due to face disciplinary proceedings after it emerged at a fatal accident inquiry earlier in the summer that he had failed to disclose to his doctors or employers a history of dizzy spells and fainting.
Six people died and more were injured after Clarke apparently lost consciousness at the wheel and began ploughing through pedestrians in George Square.
Jack Sweeney, 68, his wife, Lorraine, 69, and their 18-year-old granddaughter, Erin McQuade, all from Dumbarton, were killed when they were struck by the vehicle before it crashed into the side of the Millennium hotel at around 2.30pm on 22 December.
Stephenie Tait, 29, and Jacqueline Morton, 51, both from Glasgow, and Gillian Ewing, 52, from Edinburgh, also died in the accident, which happened as the area was teeming with Christmas shoppers and visitors to the ice rink and amusements in the square.
At the inquiry Clarke faced claims from the victims’ lawyers that he was to blame for the crash because he failed to advise anyone of his health problems. Sheriff John Beckett is due to report his findings next year.
A spokesman for Glasgow city council said: “Harry Clarke has resigned with immediate effect and is no longer an employee of Glasgow city council.”
Earlier in October, Clarke was arrested after he was allegedly seen driving a car despite having had his driving licence suspended on medical grounds.
