Police have apologised to the family of M9 crash victim Lamara Bell after an officer left a voicemail on her phone asking to call back – ten days after her death.
The 25-year-old’s brother revealed that a senior officer had visited to apologise in advance for the blunder.
Miss Bell spent three days trapped in a car with her dead boyfriend John Yuill after police failed to respond to a call from a member of the public who had seen their car crashed off a slip road on the M9 near Stirling and subsequently died.
Martin Bell said: “So my dad had the chief of Falkirk Police at his house this morning. They were there to inform him that one of their constables had phoned my sister’s phone on 21 July – ten days after she died.
“They told my dad this constable left a voicemail saying ‘Lamara, we are looking to speak to your sister Rebecca. If you have seen her can you give us a call back?”
“Are you kidding me on? Are the police for real? They came to apologise in advance for when my mum and dad hear this voicemail for themselves. Shower of useless b******s!”
Chief Constable Sir Stephen House has already apologised to the families, saying they had been let down by the national force.
Chief Superintendent John Hawkins, Forth Valley Divisional Commander said: “Once again I want to offer Police Scotland’s condolences to the Bell family.
“I am deeply disappointed that we have shown such a lack of awareness given all the briefings put in place within Forth Valley area and the media coverage reflecting the level of shock felt across the country.
“We clearly regret having caused any further upset to them.
“I have given all the details to the Bell family of why the call was made and given my, and the Chief Constable’s sincere apologies on behalf of the force.”
For more on this story pick up a copy of Wednesday’s Courier.