Screaming pupils look on as truck kills lollipop lady outside primary school
By Julie-anne Barnes
Last updated at 10:02 AM on 15th January 2010
A lollipop lady died after being knocked down by a lorry in front of horrified schoolchildren yesterday.
Mother-of-one Catherine Gibson, 59, was hit by the truck while on patrol near St Anne's Primary school in Gallowgate, Glasgow.
Eyewitnesses said it was snowing at the time of the accident, in Alma Street at around 8.50am.
Crash scene: The lorry that hit the woman is put on a tow truck yesterday
Mrs Gibson, who is believed to have a son, was left 'face down' on the road after becoming trapped under the lorry's wheels.
She was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where she died a short time later.
The 64 year-old driver of the lorry, which is owned by Barrhead, Renfrewshire, based civil engineering firm Allma Construction Ltd, was uninjured but 'deeply shocked'.
One witness, who works at a nearby garage said: 'There were children waiting to cross the road and they were all screaming and crying. They all ran back from where the accident happened.
Warning: A stop sign like the one the lollipop lady was holding when hit
'The lollipop lady was found face down. She was alive when she was found but died a short time later. It was horrific and the kids will probably need counselling.' He added: 'It could have been a case of the driver not being able to see her... she was caught on the passenger side.
'It's not clear whether she gave him enough time to stop or whether the driver had failed to stop. It was snowing, so that could have been a factor.'
The lorry would have been approaching a 20mph 'school zone' when the accident happened.
Glasgow City Council officials later confirmed that flashing signs warning motorists to slow down were operating at the time.
Robert Lawson had been dropping off his son Bradley, 11, at the school. He said: 'I heard a scream and turned round but all I could see was the yellow jacket underneath the lorry.
'I sent Bradley into the school to ring an ambulance but staff there had already done it. It really was a shocking sight and I really feel for the children.'
The road was closed and a police accident investigation unit was called to the scene. The truck was removed from the roadside at around mid-day.
Mrs Gibson was employed by Cordia, a subsidiary company set up by Glasgow City Council to provide services in the city. Yesterday, St Anne's school headteacher Louise Jarvie paid tribute to Mrs Gibson, saying: 'Cathy was a very popular and valued member of the school community and I know that she will be greatly missed by everyone.
'She had a great rapport with the children. Everyone is devastated and shocked.
'Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this very sad time. Support and counselling for pupils and staff will be available to anyone who needs it.'
Sergeant Jennifer Aird, of Strathclyde Police, said last night: 'We can confirm that a school crossing patrol officer was struck by a lorry at 8.50am.
She was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but succumbed to her injuries soon after. We are continuing enquiries to establish the full circumstances of the crash.
'The area would have been busy with both motorists and pedestrians and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the accident, indeed anyone who was near to that area of Alma Street at the time of the incident, to contact us.'
She asked anyone with information about the accident to telephone Strathclyde road policing unit on 0141 532 6400.
Mrs Gibson's family were too upset to comment last night.
An elderly woman who was a crossing guard or a "lollipop lady" has been killed in an accident involving a truck in Glasgow, Scotland. The woman has been identified as 59-year-old Catherine Gibson, who came from the Dennistoun district of Glasgow. At around 0850 GMT on Thursday, Gibson was assisting children in crossing a road as part of her job near St. Anne's Primary School, located in the east side of the city. Gibson was suddenly struck by a truck and dragged underneath the wheels of the vehicle. The children being assisted witnessed the entire collision.

After the accident occurred, Gibson was transported to a hospital but died shortly afterwards. The truck driver, who is aged 64, was not injured in the crash. The vehicle itself was taken away from the scene of the accident at approximately 1200 GMT on the same day. A person working in a garage near where the accident occurred said: "There were children waiting to cross the road and they were all screaming and crying. They all ran back from where the accident had happened. She was found face down and it looked as though the lorry had driven over her shoulder. She was alive when she was found but died a short time later. It was horrific and the kids will probably need counselling.

"It could have been a case of the driver not being able to see her because the vehicle is quite high as he caught her on the passenger side. It's not clear whether she gave him enough time to stop or whether the driver has failed to stop. It was snowing as well so that could have been a factor."

Louise Jarvie is the head teacher of St. Anne's Primary School. "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this very sad time," she said in reference to the incident. "Support and counselling for pupils and staff will be available to anyone who needs it."