The dad of a Celtic fan killed on an English motorway after boarding the wrong bus said he has had to investigate his son’s death himself in a search for answers.
John Burns, 22, was struck by multiple vehicles on the M6 near Carlisle after getting off the bus on September 14 last year.
The tragedy took place after the young dad-of-one had attended Celtic’s Scottish Premiership game against Hearts in Glasgow.
His grieving dad James told the Record vital questions about why his son ended up dead 100 miles away from his home in Newton Mearns remain unanswered.
The 48-year-old said: “My son would be alive today if he didn’t get on that supporters bus.
“It is a living nightmare. I’ve been left to think of my boy dying alone on the motorway and still we don’t know how he ended up there.
“John‘s partner Rachel and their two-year-old son Reggie were waiting for him. It makes no sense.
“We don’t know if he spoke to someone at the game who encouraged him to get on the bus – or get off.”
The family say they are unable to grieve as they face a long wait for an inquest into the death. It can only take place after a fatal accident inquiry is complete – for which no dates have been set.
At a hearing into an inquest in October last year, assistant coroner for Cumbria Dr Nicholas Shaw said: “The brief circumstances are that he was struck by probably a number of vehicles whilst a pedestrian on the motorway.
“It is not yet known how this came to be, but there will obviously be a full accident investigation.
“When that’s complete we will resume the inquest and full details will enter the public domain.”
James said his son was in good spirits before the football match and had been spotted by his cousin outside the stadium.
It is understood he then boarded a Celtic supporters bus bound for England and was dropped off at Carlisle town centre.
James believes his son made his way to the M6 in an effort to hitch a lift back to Glasgow.
He has spent the past five months trying to track down passengers on board as he believes they could hold crucial evidence – but has been met with silence.
He continued: “I feel like I’ve had to become a private detective to get answers for my family.
“John was perfectly normal in the run up to that day.
“He sent some pictures on board this bus on Snapchat and he looked lost and confused.
“I’ve approached individuals who I believe were on board but they just clam up.
“Someone couldn’t get on a bus alone from Glasgow and no one noticed.
“I don’t understand why no one has come forward to help our family piece his movements together.”
James, who lost his wife Tracey to breast cancer in February 2022, said he now faces daily questions from his other sons Josh, 21 and James, 14.
Begging members of the public to come forward, he added: “I just don’t know how much more I can take.
“I am a single dad. My boys can’t understand what has happened to their brother.
“I am begging anyone with information to come forward.”
Police in Cumbria urged any witnesses to the crash to contact them online or by calling 101 quoting incident number 238 of September 14.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond.Sign up to our daily newsletter.