A PRESTON community is mourning the loss of a local teenager who has been killed in a head-on car crash in Yorkshire.

Samina Hussain, of Ash Grove, Ribbleton, died early on Tuesday morning when the car she was a passenger in collided with an articulated lorry on the Skipton Western bypass, a notorious accident blackspot.

The 18-year-old was travelling with Bradford man Mohammed Sultan Khan, 22, towards the Yorkshire city when their Rover 218 crashed. Both were declared dead at the scene.

He was buried on Wednesday afternoon, in accordance with Islamic tradition.

An inquest was open and adjourned for Mr Khan on Tuesday, while Samina's inquiry was due to be adjourned on Wednesday afternoon.

Police officers informed Samina's family of the tragedy on Tuesday. Friends rushed to comfort her immediate family, who were too traumatised by the horrific accident to talk about their loss.

One Ribbleton shopkeeper told the Citizen: "Samina was a wonderful person.

"She was popular, friendly and caring. Everybody who knew her spoke highly of her. You would always see her talking to people.

"It is such a shock to us all. I am sure her family will be receiving support from the entire community."

Another said: "This is a very close-knit community and everyone will feel the loss."

The force of the crash was so great that the car split in two. Carnage was spread over a 75-metre stretch of the bypass, which has been the site of a spate of accidents since it opened in 1982.

Brian Pattyson, the fire officer in charge on Tuesday described the crash as the worst he had ever seen.

He said: "It was utter devastation. It is as bad a road accident as you are likely to come across.

"The car had split in two and the front of the car was under the front of the lorry's cab. The rear of the car was 75 metres from the point of impact."

Two fire appliances attended the scene, as well as a rescue tender from Skipton. Heavy lighting equipment had to be used to remove the cab so fire fighters could gain access to the crushed car.

The crash scene in which Preston teenager Samina Hussain died

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