TRIBUTES have been paid to a young woman from Looe who was killed following a car crash just three weeks after celebrating her 20th birthday.
Emma Paige Lancaster was driving to Truro College to collect her younger sister on the evening of Monday, October 8, when her car left the road near Lostwithiel and collided with a tree at around 8.15pm.
She was taken to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth with serious injuries. Her life support machine was switched off on Friday.
Her devastated family described Emma as a "beautiful, vivacious and charismatic young lady".
In a statement her family said: "Sadly, just less than three weeks after celebrating her 20th birthday, our family has been left devastated by the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter Emma Paige.
"Emma was a bright, vivacious, charismatic young lady. Socially she enjoyed a zest for life, with her natural smile and personality endearing to all. A keen music lover, as a family we were imminently due to enjoy a concert of her favourite rock band Muse.
"Attending Penpol Primary School in Hayle from 2000 to 2004, our work commitments resulted in a move to Looe.
"Emma loved her years at Looe Community School, successfully achieving her GCSEs before progressing to Truro College. Her college years continued her success, achieving three distinction grades in music, alongside a business studies A level. Just on the cusp of an exciting future, a large national insurance company has recently successfully recruited her.
"We have been deeply touched by the support offered by so many people near and far, not only to ourselves but also to her younger sister Sophie Alice and younger brother Ollie.
"Reading the countless messages and personal tributes that have been posted on Facebook, these have given a very clear picture to us of how popular Emma was.
"Our gratitude is endless to all emergency personnel who never gave up and allowed the family and close friends some very precious time."
Heather Jenkins, head teacher of Looe Community Academy said the whole school was saddened to hear of Emma's death.
"We will remember Emma as an outstanding young person," she said. "She was an exceptionally talented musician with a beautiful singing voice and loved to share her music with others.
"We will remember her laughter and the way she lit up a room."
Following the crash, the A390 at Downend was closed for 18 hours while police carried out their investigations. If you have any information call 101 quoting log number 752 of October 8, 2012.
