A PROMISING teenager remembered as the “perfect” student has died in a car crash.

Lara Smith, aged 17, of Bowbrook Cottages in Peopleton, near Pershore, was in a car with three other people when it left the road and ended on its roof in a ditch, after crashing into the central reservation at about 7am on Sunday.

The crash happened on the A421 near Brogborough in Bedfordshire.

Miss Smith was taken to Bedford Southwing Hospital in a critical condition, according to the East of England Ambulance Service, and died later in the day. Ambulance service spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “We believe the car left the road and ended upside down in a ditch after colliding with the central reservation.

“On arrival, a teenage girl was being cared for by police. She was in a critical condition.”

He said three other males travelling in the car sustained injuries which were not thought to be life-threatening.

Miss Smith, a former Pershore High School pupil, had been a student at Worcester College of Technology.

She excelled at her level two beauty therapy course and she was awarded student of the year for her tutor group in the house awards.

Sarah Beazley, her tutor, said she was the “perfect” student, “always working hard, popular with fellow students and staff.”

A college spokesman said: “Everyone is extremely upset to hear of her tragic death and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”

Clive Corbett, headteacher at Pershore, said staff had heard the “terrible” news yesterday.

Mr Corbett said: “Lara lived in Peopleton and she was with us until year 11 when she took her GCSEs, leaving in July 2010.

“She has a brother and a sister who are with us. My condolences and those of the entire school go to them and Lara’s family.

“It is very tragic and all I can say is there’s a huge number of people school who will have known Lara and will be there for the family.”

Miss Smith will be remembered in the school assemblies this week, he said. Her family declined to comment to the Worcester News yesterday.

A Facebook page was set up with tributes paid to “an angel, who is now with the angels.”

One post read “You were a lovely girl who grew up into a gorgeous lady” while another read “You’ll never be forgotten”.

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