POLICE Scotland are to be investigated after it emerged that a couple may have lain for days in a crashed car despite the incident being reported to officers.

John Yuill, 28, was found dead yesterday morning and his partner Lamara Bell, 25, remains in a critical condition in hospital after they were discovered in their Renault Clio yesterday morning, three days after the crash was reported to police.

The couple were went missing during the early hours of Sunday morning after they were last seen by friends driving away from the banks of Loch Earn in Stirlingshire.

It has been revealed that a call was made to police later that day about a car being off the road near the M9 close to the Bannockburn roundabout several miles away, but was not followed up until Wednesday.

It has now been confirmed that the Crown Office has asked the matter to be investigated by the Police Independent Review Commission.

Mr Yuill and Ms Bell, were travelling in s light blue Renault Clio, and police said at the time that there had been no sighting or contact from the couple, and that their disappearance was out of character.

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Thomson, Local Policing East, said: "Police Scotland were called to the M9 southbound near junction 9 at around 9.50am this morning following a report of a one car road traffic collision involving a Renault Clio which had left the road.

"Officers attended and the male driver of the car was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The female passenger was conveyed to the Southern General, Glasgow, where she is in a critical condition.

"We believe that this is connected to the ongoing missing persons search for John Yuill (28) and Lamara Bell (25)."

Shee added: "As part of our investigation into this incident, 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. Following a call this morning, officers attended the scene.

"Officers have notified the families of this update.

"Our thoughts are with both families at this difficult time. A full investigation is currently underway to establish the full circumstances of the incident."