Officers piece together hit-and-run victim’s last movements

POLICE are working with Lothian Buses to piece together the final movements of a hit-and-run victim found fatally injured in a bus lane close to Ocean Terminal.

The Evening News can reveal today that Craig Williams took a number 22 Lothian Bus to Ocean Terminal shortly before his motionless body was discovered in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The bus driver has confirmed to his bosses that Craig got off at Ocean Drive, but police are still mystified as to why he went there as it was six miles from his Clermiston home.

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Earlier, the 35-year-old is understood to have enjoyed a night out with friends in the Leith Walk and Pilrig area before catching the service bus to the north of the city, where he apparently fell asleep in a bus lane.

Officers are now understood to be poring over hours of footage from CCTV cameras in an effort to shed light on the events leading up to his death.

Lothian Buses has handed over film captured on at least two vehicles – the one he was travelling on and another being driven by a second driver who discovered his body – to assist with police inquiries.

It is believed the bus driver who spotted him lying on the road stopped his vehicle near to the incident before calling the company’s control room, which then notified police.

Bill Campbell, operations director at Lothian Buses, said staff were helping with the police inquiry.

“Lothian Buses is aware of the tragic incident that took place at Ocean Terminal early on Sunday morning,” he said.

“The company is working with Lothian and Borders Police in their investigations and has provided CCTV footage from buses that were in the vicinity. We are unable to comment further on any details at the moment as this is an ongoing police 
investigation.”

It is not yet known why Mr Williams, originally from Wales, had travelled to Ocean Terminal, but the bus route does stop near the Edinburgh Marriott Hotel on Glasgow Road, where he had worked for more than a year.

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Colleagues previously told how he was a “warm and friendly” man who was “always prepared to help others”.

The tragic incident initially caused a storm on microblogging website Twitter after a teenager took a photograph of Mr Williams lying on the roadside before his death and posted it online. The 17-year-old later apologised and said he regretted his actions.

Police had been keen to speak with a 25-year-old male driver of a silver Vauxhall Astra, who came forward and co-operated fully with officers before being released pending inquries.

A preliminary report into the incident has been 
submitted to the procurator fiscal.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: “Anyone with information should contact police on 0131-311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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