ROADS FIRM SLAMMED OVER FATAL CRASH

Published 9 Sep 2009 12:36

A GOVERNMENT agency has rapped a roads firm for failing to meet strict standards criteria after a police officer died in a car crash.

Renfrewshire woman Diane Donald was killed earlier this year after her car smashed into a tree on the M8 west of St James Interchange.

Earlier that morning Amey, the road maintenance company, took the decision NOT to grit the road despite the icy conditions.

Transport Scotland concluded that Amey failed to deliver the high standards expected of them and issued a remedial notice requiring the company to take appropriate action.

They also instructed an independent monitoring group to watch Amey for a 'considerable period' at the companies expense, which could cost them thousands of pounds.

Diane, from Erskine, was on her way to work, at 5.25am on January 21 when it is believed her car skidded on ice and hit a tree.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: "Transport Scotland sets very strict criteria for operating company contracts in terms of the expected requirements and service levels to ensure the delivery of high quality and safe maintenance throughout the year.

"Investigations have shown that, on this occasion, the operating company fell below those standards."

A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: "We can confirm that the Procurator Fiscal in Paisley received a report in connection with the death of Diane Donald on 21 January 2009.

"After careful consideration of all of the facts, and circumstances of the case, Crown Counsel instructed that, on the basis of all the evidence available, there should be no further proceedings in relation to this matter."

A spokesperson for Amey told the Gazette: "An independent audit by the Performance Audit Group noted that Amey's winter service provision is generally robust. As we do each year, we have further reviewed and developed our Winter Service Plan, re-inducted all relevant personnel into this and delivered training on the current procedures.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathy remains with all those affected by this event."

40-year-old Diane joined Strathclyde Police in 2001 and had been a detective officer since 2007. Paying tribute to her in January, Chief Constable, Stephen House, said: "She was a hard-working and highly valued police officer who was very popular among her colleagues both on and off duty and she will be sadly missed"

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This article appeared in The Gazette 09 Sep 09

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