POLICE Scotland are being investigated after a car crash which left a man dead and a woman severely injured was missed for three days.

As more information emerged yesterday about the crash involving John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25, from Falkirk, the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (Pirc) confirmed it would be looking into Police Scotland’s response.

The force admitted it had not followed up on a call on Sunday morning about a car off the road. It was only on Wednesday morning after another call when officers found the blue Renault Clio off the M9 near Stirling.

Police were at the scene yesterday. A temporary orange barrier has sealed the gap where it looks like the car came off the road. Disturbed grass where the car came to a halt can be seen slightly down a hill, and hidden behind trees.

John and Lamara have only been together since May, and both have children from previous relationships.

Lamara’s father Andrew told STV news he passed the spot where his daughter and Yuill had crashed earlier in the week.

“On Sunday morning I drove past the exact spot. I was concentrating on the road and the cars going past me, so I actually missed the junction. I went past the crash, not even 100 yards away from her,” Andrew said.

It was only when Andrew saw his daughter on life support and when he was talking to nurses that he realised how long his daughter had been in the car.

He said: “The hospital asked if Lamara had been in an accident, and we were like ‘no’. They said she had scabs that seemed to have healed and we didn’t think anything of it. Then a liaison officer from the police came in and that was when we found out. Suddenly it clicked in, her wounds were healing from the glass cuts and trees for three days.”

Lamara was conscious when found by police and was taken to Glasgow Southern General where she has been put into a medical coma.

Gordon Yuill, John’s father, told press that his son died immediately as a result of his injuries: “It wouldn’t have made any difference [the car not being spotted] for John. His injuries were such that he died on impact.

“But I feel it may have made a difference for Lamara. My heart goes out to her family for that.”

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Thomson, of Local Policing East, said: “It has come to light that a call was made to police late on Sunday morning regarding a car which was reported as being off the road. For reasons currently being investigated, that report was not followed up at the time.

“Officers have notified the families of this update. Our thoughts are with both families.

“A full investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances of the incident.’’

A Pirc spokesman said: “The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has directed the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner to carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 28-year-old man and serious injury of a 25-year-old woman after an incident at the M9 southbound near junction nine at Bannockburn on July 8.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said “serious questions must be answered” in the wake of the crash.

He called on Holyrood Justice Secretary Michael Matheson to consider whether the Pirc review is sufficient in the circumstances.

Rennie said: “I am deeply sorry that John Yuill and Lamara Bell have been failed. My sympathy is with the family and friends of John and Lamara.

“I have been contacted by constituents and serving police officers who are horrified by this tragedy. They want a thorough investigation into the serious issues raised by the case and whether they are connected to the wider problems with the operation of Police Scotland.

“Everyone agrees that a three-day delay between the initial call to the control room and finding the couple is unacceptable and we need to establish why this happened. I want the Justice Secretary to review whether an investigation by the Pirc is sufficient. The operation of Police Scotland is under scrutiny here.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts are with the families. This matter has been referred by the Crown to the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner and will be taken forward appropriately.”