M9 crash: Crown announces fatal accident inquiry into 2015 deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill
They lay undiscovered on the route near Stirling before police responded
Last updated 6th Dec 2021
The crown has announced there will be a fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of Lamara Bell and John Yuill, who lay undiscovered at the scene of a crash on the M9 near Stirling for three days, before Police Scotland responded to a call about it.
Mr Yuill, who was 28 at the time, died at the scene, while his partner Ms Bell later passed away in hospital at the age of 25.
Earlier this year Police Scotland was fined £100,000 after admitting that its call-handling failures contributed to Lamara's death - a case officials have described as an 'important step' leading to the FAI.
That was followed last week by confirmation that her family were awarded more than £1 million in damages from the force in a civil settlement
A statement from Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service announced its counsel had 'formally instructed' a fatal accident inquiry go ahead.
What happens next?
Confirming the news, the COPFS announced it would begin the process leading to the FAI next year.
Justin Farrell, Deputy Procurator Fiscal, Specialist Casework said: “The prosecution in this case was an important step which had to be taken before the holding of a FAI could be fully considered.
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“The public interest will now be further served in a FAI to examine the full circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and to help avoid such an incident happening again in the future.
“It is important that the Crown facilitates the process of putting all relevant information into the public domain.
“Dates for the FAI will be set by the Court in due course, and the Crown intends to initiate this process in 2022.”