THE FATHER of one of the victims of the 2015 M9 crash claims a probe into the tragedy has been delayed to avoid concerns raised after the decision not to charge truck driver Harry Clarke over the Glasgow bin lorry crash.
Gordon Yuill, 54, has said that an accident and emergency expert told him swift medical treatment could have saved his son, John, 28, who with partner Lamara Bell, 25, died in the M9 crash.
Gordon Yuill of Camelon has been seeking compensation after officers failed to respond to a message reporting the wreckage.
Mr Yuill, who had only a provisional licence, and his partner Lamara Bell lay undiscovered in woodland near Stirling for 72 hours following the crash in July 2015. Mr Yuill, 28, was killed in the crash, while mother-of-two Ms Bell, 25, later died in hospital.
Flashback to 2015, and police begin investigation.
Mr Yuill has met with Crown Office prosecutors over the July 2015 scandal.
He says a call for a fatal accident inquiry were snubbed and that the Crown Office were dragging their feet as their decision not to charge driver Harry Clarke over the 2014 Glasgow bin lorry smash sparked outrage, with prosecutors insisting there was insufficient evidence to raise criminal proceedings.
In a rare legal move, relatives of three crash victims sought permission from senior judges to bring charges against him in a private prosecution. However, judges at the appeal court in Edinburgh ruled in November, 2016 that the family could not launch a private prosecution.
Mr Yuill said he was informed investigations into the M9 crash are not being rushed.
He said: “They said the bin lorry fatal accident inquiry was too quick and lessons had been learned.
“They don’t want to rush in. But it’s four years last summer since John and Lamara died and there’s still got to be a prosecution."
He told The Sun:“They are saying they will update us in the summer.
“So if they decide to prosecute it is not going to take place until next year. That has to conclude before an FAI can be held.
Lamara Bell and John Yuill lay undiscovered for three days despite a call from a member of the public. Bell was still alive when officers found her, but later died.
Mr Yuill said that his solicitor had spoken to someone who looked at John Yuill's autopsy and said that he could have survived with swift medical treatment.
The findings were made by an independent consultant with 20 years’ experience in A&E who carried out an in- depth study of John’s post-mortem notes.
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said the matter is being considered by prosecutors and added it would be “inappropriate for us to comment".
A Crown Office spokesman said: “Detailed and complex inquiries have been carried out and that work is ongoing. It would not be appropriate to comment further.”
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