Care home minibus crushes resident

The Care Inspectorate and Police Scotland have launched an investigation into an incident where a woman was killed after being crushed by a minibus at the residential home where she lived.

Margaret Jack had been a resident of Greencross Care Home in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire for a number of years and friends and relatives have paid tribute to her calling her a “friendly and popular” lady.

The 71-year-old had been coming back from a bowling trip with two other residents on Monday 19 January when she was crushed by the unattended minibus that had started rolling down a slope in the care home’s car park.

The driver, who was also knocked over but not seriously injured, had been helping another resident into the home before realising the empty minibus had started moving towards Ms Jack.

Although it is understood another older person in the group tried to apply the footbrake to stop the vehicle, the minibus hit both the driver and Ms Jack who was taken to hospital and put on life support but later died from her injuries four days later.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: "This was a tragic and distressing incident and our thoughts are with all affected.

"We have been kept fully informed by the service and have been supporting them at this difficult time.

"Our first priority is always the safety and well-being of service users.

"We have been in close contact with the service to ensure that residents' needs continue to be met, their rights respected and that they are supported at this difficult time.

"This matter will be fully investigated by Police Scotland and we will support that investigation.

"Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights.

"Anyone with a concern should contact our helpline on 0345 600 9527." Greencross care home released a statement which said: "The staff are completely devastated by this tragic accident.

"We have spoken with her family and given them an account of the circumstances."