The distraught mother of a tragic teenager killed in a horrific car crash said last night her daughter would “always be loved and remembered”.
Neringa Narusyte died and pal Nyah Mckay was left critically ill after the black Vauxhall Corsa the 14-year-olds were travelling in collided with a 4×4.
Three other teenagers – a 16-year-old girl, a 17-year-old girl and the 17-year-old male driver of the car – were also hurt.
The 42-year-old driver of the Nissan Terrano involved in the accident suffered minor injuries.
Buckie High S3 pupil Nyah was airlifted to hospital in Glasgow with life-threatening injuries.
Classmate Neringa’s family moved to Moray from Lithuania 11 years ago.
Yesterday, her mother Ilona Narusiene, 34, wiped away tears as she described her daughter as “a happy young girl”.
She said: “She was very popular. This last year she had started to go out a lot more with friends, just like any other teenager.
“She loved animals and children and had been training our dog Skye. I still can’t believe it’s happened.”
Ms Narusiene added: “She was a lovely, nice girl.
“She was just a teenager. She’s always going to be loved and remembered.
“I still can’t believe that she’s gone.”
Ms Narusiene said her daughter had a zest for life and “loved going on rollercoasters and that sort of thing”.
Wednesday might’s accident happened on the B9016 Buckie-Keith near Rye Riggs at Aultmore.
Friends of Ms Narusiene were at her home in Buckpool yesterday to support her and Neringa’s 17-year-old sister Erika, 10-month-old brother Jay and stepfather Colin Milne.
The family had recently enjoyed a holiday together in London and posed for a picture at the London Eye..
A special assembly was held for Neringa’s S3 classmates at Buckie High School yesterday morning to break the news of her death to them.
A support centre has been set up by the school’s guidance teachers to support pupils and staff.
Rector Neil Johnson said: “This is the type of news that all schools dread and it has hit everyone here very hard.
“The loss of Neringa is felt by us all but I’m confident that the very strong community spirit at Buckie High will help us support each other and deal with this tragedy.”
Neringa’s friends have also posted tributes to her online and messages of support of Nyah.
They described the news as “shocking” and “heartbreaking”.
One said: “Life’s too short to take for granted. You never know when it’s going to be taken from you. Rip Neringa. It was too soon for you.”
Buckie councillor Sonya Warren said her thoughts and prayers were with the family and friends of all those involved in the accident.
Road policing sergeant Rob Warnock said: “My thoughts, and those of my officers, are very much with the family and friends of the girl who sadly died in this tragic collision.
“I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the crash or who may have seen either vehicle shortly beforehand and who hasn’t yet spoken with police to do so as a matter of urgency to help us piece together exactly what happened.”
Police have urged anyone with information on the accident to contact them on 101.
