Coach driver, 25, dies after crash on Forth Road Bridge diversion

A man has died after a crash on the Forth Road Bridge diversion route.
Roy Paul, from Burntisland, died after an accident on the A985Roy Paul, from Burntisland, died after an accident on the A985
Roy Paul, from Burntisland, died after an accident on the A985

Roy Paul, 25, from Burntisland in Fife, died in Forth Valley Hospital on Tuesday, two days after the accident on the A985 Kincardine to Cairneyhill Road.

The coach driver was on his way home in his own car after dropping off a bus at a depot in East Calder when the crash happened at around 7am in poor weather.

A 56-year-old man was treated for injuries at the scene.

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Mr Paul’s employer, Edinburgh-based AAA Coaches, confirmed he had just completed a shift driving back from Inverness.

Traffic has been diverted via the A985 since the Forth Road Bridge was closed on Friday morning.

The road was closed for several hours after the crash, with traffic instead sent along the A977.

Mr Paul’s family issued a tribute to him, saying: “Roy was a loving son, brother and uncle who will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

“We would ask for privacy to grieve at this difficult time.”

Linda Sutherland, manager of AAA Coaches Ltd, said the company was devastated for Mr Paul’s family.

“There don’t seem to be any words that can describe the loss or anguish Roy’s family must be feeling at the moment but what we can say is that he was a keen, happy-go-lucky gentleman who seemed to take everything in his stride,” she said.

“He was a valued member of our team and in the short time we knew him became a key member of staff.

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“In the short few months he worked for us, we had numerous compliments coming in from customers that he was excellent at his job.”

Ms Sutherland said tributes to Mr Paul had been flooding in from customers, other operators and fellow-drivers.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to Sunday’s accident between a Vauxhall Astra and a Peugeot Boxer van.