M9 crash: Victim's family find wreckage at accident site one year on

Lamara Bell who was in the car with John Yuill who died in a road accident near a junction with the M9 near Stirling. Handout.

A year on from the accident which claimed the lives of Lamara Bell and her partner, John Yuill, Ms Bell’s relatives have found previously unidentified wreckage strewn across the crash site.

Her daughter, Alysha, 10, picked up pieces of debris from shrubbery in a field next to the M9, where she and others were leaving flowers to mark the first anniversary of the deaths.

Ms Bell’s father, Andrew, said the discovery raised doubts over whether the under-fire force had carried out its job properly in determining the cause of the crash.

The funeral of M( crash victim Lamara Bell, 25. Lamara's coffin was followed in a procession led by dad, Andrew Bell; daughter, Alysha Yuill and mum, Diane Bell. Picture: TSPL

He told the Scottish Sun on Sunday: “I picked up bodywork which should have been taken away for examination after the crash - I thought every piece had gone?

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“I’ve picked up dozens of bits of plastic in undergrowth at the crash site, including a big chunk which looked like it could be a bumper attachment.

“There were also smaller pieces of plastic the same shade of blue as the Renault Clio.”

John Yuilll who was found dead in a crashed car that had gone off the M9 near Stirling. Picture: Handout

He added: “I would have hoped the police would have gone above and beyond to make sure their investigation was done right.”

However, Police Scotland has defended its original search and said it has been in direct contact with the family of Ms Bell over the matter and was working to establish whether the items recovered on Friday were linked to last July’s collision.

Ms Bell, 25, and Mr Yuill, 28, died after lying in a crashed car for three days after the incident was first reported to police. Mother-of-two Ms Bell was critically injured in the crash off the motorway near Stirling and later died in hospital. Mr Yuill died at the scene.

It emerged that a phone call to police reporting a vehicle off the road on 5 July was not followed up.

The Lord Advocate is currently considering the findings of an independent report before deciding if any action, such as a fatal accident inquiry, should follow.

Chief Superintendent Stephen McAllister, the Forth Valley Commander, said: “Police Scotland has been made aware of information relating to debris at the scene of the crash on the M9 last July.

“I would wish to reassure the families and the wider public that following the incident, specialist officers conducted an extensive search of the crash site.

“This resulted in the recovery of the vehicle and items found nearby which were examined during the investigation into the crash.

“We have made direct contact with the Bell family and have recovered the debris to establish its source.

“We have advised the Crown Office and will carry out the necessary investigation to try to establish what link, if any, these items have to the accident.

“I would again extend my sympathies and those of Police Scotland to the families of Lamara Bell and John Yuill at this difficult time.”

It is understood the force was made aware of the debris on Friday and it was recovered on the same day.

A Crown Office spokesman said: “We have been made aware of this matter by the Police Service of Scotland and at this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “One year on this turn of events must be agonising for family and friends who have endured the horror of the crash and the aftermath.

“The police need to explain what has happened. If further evidence has been discovered then we do need that explanation urgently.”

Two investigations were launched following the crash - one by the police into the actual crash and another by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), which was tasked with examining the wider circumstances surrounding the deaths.

A PIRC spokesman said: “The commissioner submitted a supplementary report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) last month on her independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25, following the recovery of a car close to the motorway at Bannockburn on 8 July 2015.

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