Family of teenager killed in crash to sue acquitted driver

The family of a teenager who lost his life in a car accident near Stirling two years ago has decided to pursue a civil lawsuit against the driver involved, despite his earlier acquittal in a criminal case. Kyle Marshall, aged 19, and 17-year-old Jayden McConnell died in a collision in March 2024, when the car driven by Charles Gray veered off control and collided with a lorry on the A91 close to Bannockburn Interchange.

Charles Gray, who had only recently obtained his driving license a month prior to the incident, was found not guilty of causing death by careless driving after a five-day hearing at Stirling Sheriff Court in November last year. Now, the Marshall family is seeking damages through a civil claim, which alleges negligence on Gray’s part. According to a representative from Digby Brown, the firm handling the case for the Marshall family, “A civil action has now been raised in the Court of Session on behalf of the loved ones of Kyle to help them secure answers, support and recognition. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time however we will continue to support the Marshall family during this time.”

During the trial it was revealed that Gray, who was 17 at the time, had lost control of the Vauxhall Corsa on a notoriously slippery stretch of road often referred to as “greasy corner.” This happened shortly after he left a roundabout on a wet Sunday afternoon. The car spun across the carriageway and collided head-on with a heavy tipper lorry traveling in the opposite direction. While Kyle Marshall and Jayden McConnell, both seated in the rear, died in the crash, Gray’s then-girlfriend Lauryn Moir, who was seated in the front passenger seat, survived with no serious injuries.

Emergency responders who happened to be passing by the scene helped save Gray’s life when he was initially found not breathing; they managed to open his airway. His injuries were severe, including a ruptured spleen, spinal damage, and a brain injury. Gray stated tearfully during his testimony that he could not remember any details of the crash itself and only learned about the deaths of his friends after waking from an induced coma four weeks later. Expert analysis of data from an insurance company’s “black box” indicated that Gray had a consistent driving record in the weeks before the accident. Additionally, the court heard that police had not conducted tests to determine the slipperiness of the road or carried out a series of inspections that might have identified possible faults with the vehicle prior to the collision

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