A POPULAR north-east teenager has been killed following a head-on crash in rural Buchan.
Laura Thomas died when the car she was driving hit another vehicle on the A981 Fraserburgh to New Deer road.
Four passengers in the black Ford Ka that Miss Thomas was driving were seriously hurt and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, however.
Firefighters used cutting equipment to free the five people from the vehicle.
Police said that 19-year-old Miss Thomas, from Rosehearty, was declared dead at the scene. The accident happened at a bend in the road, about a mile-and-a-half south of Memsie just after midnight yesterday.
The route was closed for several hours while police carried out a detailed examination of the scene.
Police said that Miss Thomas’s car was travelling north when it was in collision with a silver Renault Megane, coming in the opposite direction.
The driver of the other vehicle is understood to have escaped without serious injury.
Last night, tributes were paid to Miss Thomas, who was known affectionately by friends as Laura Gaga because of her resemblance to her favourite pop star, Lady Gaga.
Originally from Bristol, her family moved to Gardenstown when she was a youngster.
She went to Bracoden Primary and then Banff Academy. After leaving school, she worked as a hairdresser and was keen to pursue a career in the beauty industry.
Miss Thomas stayed at a flat in Rosehearty’s Loch Street. Last night, shocked neighbours said: “Everyone who knew her will just be absolutely devastated.
“She always seemed very friendly and lively. It’s just such a tragedy when someone so young is taken so suddenly.”
Miss Thomas’s page on social networking site Bebo has been inundated with messages from friends.
One wrote: “I’m not ready for you to be taken away from me. I will always remember our good memories, we have loads.
“You told me that when you died you would come back and be my wee pillow and blanky – you better keep that promise.”
Last night, Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford also paid tribute.
She said: “My heart goes out to the family and friends of this young woman and I’m sure the thoughts and prayers of the whole community will be with them, and with the families of the others injured in this terrible accident.”
The scene of the crash was reopened just after 8am.
A police spokesman said: “The road was closed for eight hours while we carried out a thorough inspection.
“Obviously, we are trying to determine what went wrong and would ask for any witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch.” The incident brings the death toll on Grampian’s roads this year to 19.
The A981 Strichen to Memsie route has been the scene of several serious accidents.
In January, two people were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary when their silver Audi left the road in the early hours.
Two years ago, just north of the scene of yesterday’s crash, a 61-year-old motorist was killed when her Mazda 6 was involved in a crash with a 4x4 vehicle.
Last weekend, six people died in road accidents across Scotland. Anyone with information on the crash at Memsie is urged to call police on 0845 600 5700.