Alexandria teen’s death was an accident

May 7 2010 by Amanda Mckendrick, Lennox Herald (main ed)

POLICE have confirmed that Dean Geary died as the result of a car accident – but was not the victim of a hit and run.

Central Scotland Police say their investigations will continue to discover how the 19-year-old from Tullichewan ended up on the road near Drymen where his body was found on February 7.

It is understood the driver of the vehicle which struck Dean came forward voluntarily early in the police investigation. He was questioned but has not been charged in relation to the death.

Following a painstaking investigation which involved medical experts and road traffic investigators from across the UK, police say they are now satisfied that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Dean, who had suffered serious head injuries, was found at the side of the A811, near Drymen, by a passing motorist at around 5.30am on Sunday, February 7.

Police treated the death as suspicious and said former Vale of Leven Academy pupil Dean – who had been on a night out with pals in Glasgow before his death – may have been the victim of a hit and run or an assault.

But on Monday, it was confirmed that the teen died as a result of a tragic accident.

A report detailing the circumstances surrounding Dean’s death is now being sent to the procurator fiscal.

And police are focussing their attention on the taxi driver who gave Dean a lift from Glasgow on the night he died.

Detective Chief Inspector Willie Cravens, who is leading the investigation, said: “We still need to know how Dean got from Glasgow to the Drymen area. Our inquiries are currently focused on taxi firms and taxi drivers in Glasgow and the surrounding area. We need to trace the person who gave Dean the lift and urge anyone with information to come forward.

“We are unable to confirm if Dean arrived home in Alexandria, but if he did it would have been around 3.50am.”

Both Dean’s black and yellow Sony Ericsson W76 mobile phone and brown leather Armani wallet were missing when his body was found – and police have appealed to anyone who found the items to get in touch.

Anyone with information can contact police on 01786 456000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.