Police Scotland launch inquiry after crash victim left lying next to dead partner for three days

Officers found the pair just off the M9 near Stirling this week. They admitted the crash had been reported on Sunday but had, for some reason, been ignored.

It is understood the pair were John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25. Mr Yuill died at the scene while Ms Bell is in a critical condition.

They were reported missing to police after last being seen with friends near Loch Earn on Sunday.

Assistant chief constable Kate Thomson said officers were called to the scene of the crash at about 0950 on Wednesday after reports the car had left the road.

She added: “We believe that this is connected to the ongoing missing persons search for John Yuill and Lamara Bell.

“As part of our investigation into this incident, it has come to light that a call was made to police late on Sunday morning regarding a car which was reported as being off the road.

“For reasons currently being investigated, that report was not followed up at the time. Following a call this morning, officers attended the scene.

“Officers have notified the families of this update. Our thoughts are with both families at this difficult time.

“A full investigation is currently under way to establish the full circumstances of the incident.”

An investigation is being undertaken by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) into the incident.

A spokesman for the PIRC said: “The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner has begun an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 28-year-old man and serious injury of a 25-year-old woman following the recovery of a car close to the M9 motorway at Bannockburn on 8 July 2015.

“The investigation will focus on why a telephone call made to Police Scotland on Sunday 5 July, which reported their car was off the road, was not followed up.

“The commissioner’s investigation will also examine the robustness of Police Scotland’s missing person enquiry and look at why that enquiry was not linked with the information received in the call.

“Our team of investigators have now commenced enquiries to look into all these matters and establish what happened.”