Inquiry opens into deaths of couple undiscovered after motorway crash
The crash on the M9 near Stirling happened in 2015
Last updated 18th Sep 2023
A fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of a couple who were left undiscovered for days after crashing off the M9 motorway eight years ago begins today at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
Lamara Bell and Mr Yuill both died after the car they were in crashed on the motorway near Stirling in July 2015.
The couple were left lying in their Renault Clio for three days before being discovered, despite police previously being alerted to the incident.
At a preliminary hearing in January, Murdo Macleod KC, representing Police Scotland, lodged a motion to postpone the commencement of the full inquiry due to former chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone's "significant undertaking" as a "core participant" into the ongoing inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh - who died in police custody in 2015.
It is expected the inquiry will last "a number of weeks".
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Compensation and fines
It comes after the family of Ms Bell were awarded more than ÂŁ1 million in damages from Police Scotland in a civil settlement in December 2021.
The force was also fined ÂŁ100,000 in September of the same year at the High Court in Edinburgh after it pleaded guilty to health and safety failings which "materially contributed" to Ms Bell's death.
The court heard Ms Bell pleaded for help after being found and would probably have survived had she been rescued sooner.
Sir Iain apologised to the families of Mr Yuill and Ms Bell following the court case.
When their car was discovered on July 8 2015, Mr Yuill was pronounced dead at the scene and Ms Bell died four days later in hospital.
A member of the public had reported the crashed vehicle to police on July 5, but no action was taken until another member of the public noticed the car three days later, heard Ms Bell pleading for help, and called the police.
Fact-finding inquiry
Similar to an inquest in England and Wales, an FAI is not a criminal inquiry and is used to establish facts rather than apportion blame.
Their purpose includes determining the cause of death, the circumstances in which the death occurred, and to establish what reasonable precautions could have been taken to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.
Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for COPFS, said: "Following a thorough and detailed investigation and criminal prosecution this Fatal Accident Inquiry will look at the full circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and help avoid such an incident happening again.
"The families of Lamara Bell and John Yuill and their legal representatives will continue to be updated as the Inquiry progresses."