Teenager died after being hit by car - police

A TEENAGER whose body was found at the side of a country road died as a result of being struck by a vehicle, police said today.

Dean Geary was found by a passing motorist on the A811 near Drymen, Stirlingshire, in the early hours on Sunday February 7.

The 19-year-old, who was last seen in Glasgow enjoying a night out with friends, died of severe head injuries.

Central Scotland Police said an extensive investigation involving various experts had enabled them to conclude that he died as a result of being struck by a vehicle.

Mr Geary, from Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, was in Glasgow city centre shortly after 3am when he is thought to have got into what he believed was a taxi.

He spoke to a friend on his mobile phone at around 3.30am saying he was in a taxi.

Police are focused on discovering how he got from Glasgow to the Drymen area and appealed for information.

Detective Chief Inspector Willie Cravens said: "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.

"A man fitting Dean's description was seen at various points on the A811 walking between Gartocharn and Drymen about 4.50am and 5.15am.

"We appeal for anyone who saw Dean in Alexandria or the surrounding areas to contact us."

Police are also keen to trace the teenager's mobile phone and wallet, which were missing when he was found.

The Armani wallet is made of dark brown leather while the phone is a Sony Ericsson W760 slide phone model.

It is black with a yellow stripe on the back of the phone and has a cracked screen.

Police said the wallet may have been lost before Mr Geary got into the vehicle or may have fallen down the back of a car seat along with the phone.

DCI Cravens said: "I appeal for all taxi drivers to check their vehicles in case these items are there. Somebody may have come across the phone or the wallet and thought they were insignificant. We urge anyone who may have found them to contact us."

A report detailing the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.