A SCHOOL bus crash that killed a 17-year-old girl more than two years ago is to be investigated at a fatal accident inquiry.
Natasha Paton was on an Easter trip to Alton Towers theme park when the bus careered off the road in blizzard conditions close to Biggar, South Lanarkshire.
The coach, which was carrying 39 sixth year pupils from Lanark Grammar School, crashed through a bridge parapet into a field 10ft below.
Natasha is believed to have been thrown from the vehicle and later discovered after she failed to register in a head count conducted by teachers.
Education bosses at South Lanarkshire Council were criticised at the time for allowing the trip to go ahead in treacherous conditions.
A police report into the incident was completed in October 2010 – six months after the accident on March 31, 2009 – but officials at the Crown Office have only just agreed that an inquiry should go ahead.
It is understood that no single person was named in the police report and the Crown yesterday confirmed that no-one will face criminal charges in connection with the accident.
No date has been set yet for the inquiry, which is likely to be held at Lanark Sheriff Court, but the Crown Office added that Natasha's family is being kept up to date with the progress of the case.
However, Lanark MP Jim Hood claimed the delay in the case was unacceptable. He said: "The delay is disappointing at best, and unsatisfactory. But I'm pleased they're having the inquiry – hopefully something will come out of it that will help save lives."
The politician added that he hoped the inquiry would specifically look at the issue of making it compulsory to wear seatbelts on buses.
A South Lanarkshire Council spokesperson added: "Our thoughts are with the Paton family. The statement from the Crown Office reflects the current situation."
The bus, driven by Raymond Munro, was just 20 minutes into its journey to the Staffordshire theme park when it hit black ice and came off the A7, ending up partially in water.
Mr Munro, of Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, was unavailable for comment last night, but a family member claimed he thinks about what happened every day.
The family member said: "This has really affected Raymond and the entire family.
"We live with this every day and cannot imagine what that girl's family has gone through."
Mr Munro has previously claimed he had pleaded with teachers to postpone the trip.
Shortly after the incident, he said: "I told the school about the conditions and pleaded with them to delay the trip for a week until the weather was better. But they were determined to go.
"I phoned my boss and told him that the school were not interested in listening to me.
"It was down to the teachers to go that morning and I told them I didn't want to.
"I would give my own life to bring Natasha back."
Natasha's family refused to comment on the inquiry when contacted at their home near Carstairs.
Her parents Jacqueline and Gordon, her sister Danielle and brother Fraser were joined by hundreds of mourners at the teenager's funeral service at St Nicholas Church in Lanark in April 2010.
Friends of Natasha paid tribute to the teenager by wearing specially designed sweatshirts to the service. They had "God only takes the best" printed on them.
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