TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular teenager tragically killed in a road crash earlier this week.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular teenager tragically killed in a road crash earlier this week.

Sophie Underwood, 18, a former pupil at Copleston High School in Ipswich, died following a three-car collision outside the waste recycling centre on Foxhall Road on Tuesday night.

Miss Underwood attended Copleson Sixth Form until completing her AS Levels in November 2006.

Esther Watkin, the school's head of sixth form, paid tribute to Miss Underwood, said: “Sophie will be remembered as a fun-loving, sociable and vibrant young woman.

“Our thoughts are with her family at this tragic time.

“There are a lot of students here who were incredibly good friends with Sophie. She was central to having lots of fun.

“They are all very sad she has been taken so suddenly and that they have had no time to say goodbye to her.

“We have a counsellor in school all day and she has been speaking to some of those who have felt they needed that support. We have been speaking to students as well.”

An 18-year-old woman who was driving the car Miss Underwood was in, a black Renault Clio, was taken to Ipswich Hospital where she remains with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

A 53-year-old man driving a Volkswagen Golf car was also taken to hospital but was later discharged.

The accident happened at around 8pm on Tuesday and police closed the road from the junction with the A12 to Dobbs Lane for six-and-a-half hours while crash investigators worked at the scene.

Three fire engines attended the incident to release the casualties from the vehicles, who were then taken to hospital.

Police are investigating the accident and are appealing for anyone witnesses to contact Pc Ben Coombes at Suffolk police headquarters roads policing unit on 01473 613500.