Harrowing stories of the Glasgow bin lorry crash survivors emerged yesterday, with one teenager describing how she pleaded “Please don’t let me die” as she was dragged along the street.
Alix Stewart suffered a series of horrific injuries, including having her spine shattered and her ear ripped off, when she became trapped under the vehicle on December 22 last year.
The then 14-year-old, who had been waiting to meet friends, had just found out she had been selected to play basketball for Scotland.
A haunting account of the bin lorry crash, written by Alix’s father, Colin, was read out at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday.
The hearing into the tragedy, in which six people lost their lives, also heard personal testimonies from three other survivors, who revealed they have suffered permanent disfigurement and psychological trauma.
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Mr Stewart told how his daughter had spent Christmas in hospital and underwent a seven-hour operation after being placed in an induced coma.
He wrote: “When Alix was hit by the bin lorry she sustained a number of very serious injuries.
“She had four lacerations to the sides and back of her head, her right ear was torn, she received a broken collarbone, two broken ribs, three broken bones in her spine, a shattered femur, injuries to both kidneys, gut and liver. All her skin on her back was scraped off.
“She is scarred vertically down her chest, along her right shoulder, down her left shin and all over her back.”
Mr Stewart also revealed that his daughter was left with a “road tattoo” — permanent scarring with grit from the road embedded under her skin — had metal pins inserted in her leg, and her ear had been stitched back on.
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He said: “Alix was unable to return to playing basketball for at least seven months. She has returned to playing for her school and has been selected for the Scotland team once more.
“Alix avoids going into Glasgow city centre and is anxious when she sees bin lorries and starts shaking.”
A statement from her friend Irene McAuley, who was 18 at the time of the crash, was also read out.
It revealed she needed a bone graft in her jaw after hitting her head on the curb and that she fears the incident will affect her for the rest of her life.
She wrote: “Between losing my teeth, having the surgeries and having a denture, I have developed a lisp and have had to teach myself to pronounce words again properly.”
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The hearing also heard a statement from Marie Weatherall, who suffered a broken arm and shoulder.
The 64-year-old, who had been a “keen walker”, claimed the crash had taken away her confidence and motivation and left her with mobility issues.
Elaine Morrell, who was 49 at the time of the accident, suffered four facial fractures, a serious eye injury and has had a metal plate implanted in her cheek. She claimed the incident has left her unable to return to George Square.
The inquiry continues.