Caller tells of guilt after crashed car left for three days

The man who called police to report a car crash which the force did not investigate for three days has said he feels guilty he did not follow it up after both people in the vehicle died.

Lamara Bell, 25, was critically injured in the crash off the M9 near Stirling on Sunday, July 5, and died in hospital on Sunday, while her partner, John Yuill, 28, died at the scene.

They were only found in the car on Wednesday, around 72 hours after the accident, despite the incident being reported to police on the day it happened.

Police Scotland chief constable Stephen House has said he will not resign.

The man who initially reported the crash last Sunday told the BBC the officer he spoke to was not dismissive and sounded as though he knew what he was doing.

The man, who wants to remain anonymous, told the BBC there was “nothing to suggest they would not take it seriously” and he “assumed the police would check it out”.

He became concerned on the Monday and Tuesday when the car was still there with no police tape covering it, but thought it “must be awaiting recovery”.

He said he was “aware of what was being said about whether he should have done more” but believed police were handling it.

House said he believes it is right for him to stay in the job and provide leadership.