Inquiry fixed into M9 crash
Seven years on:
A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the M9 crash is to be announced this week but is unlikely to begin until seven years after the tragedy which claimed the lives of two people.
John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25, were returning from a camping trip when their Renault Clio left the motorway and plunged down an embankment near Bannockburn on July 5, 2015.
A call was made to police that day to report the crash but it wasn’t followed up and officers only attended three days later when a further 999 call was made. John died at the scene while Lamara passed away in hospital on July 12, a week after the crash.
We can reveal an FAI inquiry into the circumstances will finally begin next year, with an announcement by the Crown Office anticipated this week. The FAI is expected to begin in the latter part of 2022, seven years after the crash. It’s understood the families involved have been informed of the development.
It was revealed last week that Lamara’s family are to receive more than £ 1 million in damages from Police Scotland. The force were fined in September after admitting call- handling failures materially contributed to her death.
John’s father, Gordon Yuill, said the family have questions over why, in 2018, police scrapped the car involved without permission.
He added the £ 100,000 fine handed to Police Scotland at the High Court in September over the crash was pointless, as it will be covered by taxpayers. Police Scotland pled guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety Act admitting corporate criminal liability.
The Be l l family said the conclusion of the civil claim against Police Scotland was the end of “chasing answers, recognition and justice for six years”.
The Crown Office said: “Work continues to initiate an FAI and further information on the process will be made public when possible.”