Girl motorway death appeal launched

Jan 24 2013

Police investigating the death of a 15-year-old girl who was found on a motorway have renewed appeals for drivers on the road to contact them.

Anna Johnson, 15, from the Stirling area, was discovered by a passing motorist at about 7am on Tuesday on the M9 close to the Bannockburn interchange.

She was a pupil at Morrison's Academy in Crieff, Perthshire, and was popular and well-respected, rector Simon Pengelley said.

"All the staff and pupils at Morrison's Academy are deeply saddened by the untimely death of Anna Johnson", he said. "She was a well-respected and popular pupil, and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this sad time.

"The school is committed to supporting the police during their investigation and we will be conducting our own internal investigations, therefore it would be inappropriate of us to provide any further comment at this time.

"Our immediate focus is to provide all the necessary support to Anna's family, our pupils and their parents as well as our staff."

Central Scotland Police have renewed their appeal for drivers on the road to contact them.

Chief inspector Gordon Dawson said: "We have had an excellent response from motorists and people who were in the area. As a result we are able to narrow the timescales and are keen to hear from anybody who was on the M9 or Birkhill Road bridge in Cambusbarron between 6.40am and 7am on Tuesday January 22.

"In particular we want to speak to those who were driving on the M9 northbound between junction 9 Bannockburn interchange, which are the services at Stirling, and Birkhill Road bridge, which is the fourth in a series of bridges before Craigforth at junction 10. The investigation into Anna's death continues and we are undertaking a number of inquiries into the circumstances."

Anyone with information can contact Central Scotland Police on 01786 456000.