Police Scotland are facing a fresh probe over allegations that a warning was ignored ahead of a serious crash in Tayside.
Claims that officers could have acted prior to an accident that saw four young men hospitalised have surfaced just a day after the force was found guilty of “clear failings” in a separate case where a man lost a leg.
The inquiry from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) relates to events surrounding a crash in Angus on June 30, which saw a 19-year-old driver sustain a serious head injury and his three passengers hurt.
A Courier source has revealed a member of the public had concerns about a young driver as he prepared to leave Forfar prior to the incident on the B9113 road to Montrose in the early hours of the morning.
PIRC are understood to be investigating claims that officers were informed of the man’s intention to drive.
The investigation was referred by Police Scotland and PIRC has said it relates to a “response to information provided to police officers”.
A statement from the body reads: “The Police Service of Scotland has asked the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) to carry out an independent investigation into their response to information provided to police officers in Forfar by a member of the public.
“The investigation follows a single vehicle road accident on the B9113 Forfar to Burnside Road, Angus in the early hours of Sunday June 30 in which the driver, a 19-year-old male, sustained serious injuries. A report will be submitted to the chief constable in due course.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed the force contacted PIRC in relation to the circumstances around the collision.
He said: “An investigation into the full set of circumstances surrounding the road traffic collision is currently ongoing. As such it would not be appropriate to comment.
“It is anticipated that a full report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”
The men involved in the Forfar to Montrose crash were taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after the car they were travelling in struck a wall at Quarry Park Cottage between Rescobie and Balgavies lochs.
The three passengers were released from hospital with the driver of the black Peugeot 106 still in there but expected to make a full recovery. He was initially said to be in a critical condition with head and chest injuries.