Car parts found a year on at scene of horror smash where woman lay dying for three days
The victim’s dad found wreckage parts by the side of road
THE family of a woman who died after being trapped in a crash for three days have hit out after car parts were found a year on from the tragedy.
A police call centre blunder meant cops failed to act at the time of the crash - a year on and one of the victim's dads said he has found debris at the scene.
The mistake meant Lamara Bell, 25, lay injured for about 72 hours following the accident and died in hospital four days after she was eventually found.
Her partner John Yuill, 28, died at the wheel at the scene of the crash on the M9 near Stirling, Scotland.
Now Lamara’s dad has spoken of his shock after finding debris he believes is from the motor she lay in for three days before she died.
Andrew, 50, fears evidence collected by officers from the site near Stirling was missed by the accident probe last July.
He said last night: “I picked up bodywork which should have been taken away for examination after the crash — I thought every piece had gone?
“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.
“One has the letters ‘ult’ on it, which looks like the end of the word ‘Renault’.”
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The discovery was reported after a visit by his family to lay flowers to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s crash.
Uniformed officers turned up on Friday and left with two bags filled from the undergrowth.
Andrew added: “I would have hoped the police would have gone above and beyond to make sure their investigation was done right.”
The family also said the couple’s young daughter found car debris on a visit to the scene of her parents’ death smash.
Her grandad Andrew blasted: “It’s not right a 10-year-old child should have to tidy up a crash site like this.
“Aside from the fact these pieces should have been gathered as evidence, they should not have been left lying for Alysha to see.”
John, 28, died there after his blue Renault Clio toppled off the road on July 5 last year.
But a police call centre blunder meant critically injured Lamara, 25, was not found till three days later. She died in hospital on July 12.
Andrew said: “I’m not aware of there being any other accidents at this spot since Lamara’s, so where else could this stuff have come from?”
Lamara, who also left behind six-year-old son Kieran
Her dad said: “Lamara would have been lying there shouting for help that never came.”
Chief Supt Stephen McAllister defended the original search of the site but pledged that the newly-found wreckage will be thoroughly checked to see if it is linked to the crash.
He said the development has been reported to the Crown Office.
The area commander added: “We’ll carry out an investigation to establish what link, if any, the new items have to the accident.”
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner has given Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC a report into Police Scotland’s bungled response to the smash.
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