Commuter is killed in pile-up three days after 23rd birthday

A YOUNG woman and a lorry driver were killed in a three-vehicle crash that left a further four people seriously injured.

Scots Rebecca Rennie and Ian McQueen died in the crash near Longtown, Cumbria, involving a lorry, a minibus and a car.

The family of Ms Rennie, who died just days after her 23rd birthday, said she was looking forward to Christmas, while relatives of Mr McQueen, 43, said he was “a big kid” who would be missed by all who knew him.

Ms Rennie, from Newcastleton in the Borders, who was a passenger in the minibus, and Mr McQueen both died at the scene. The crash happened in icy conditions early on Thursday morning.

The 56-year-old driver of the minibus, who was also from Newcastleton, was seriously hurt and suffered chest and leg injuries.

The other passengers were two men from Canonbie, one aged 61 and the other 55, who both sustained serious injuries, and a woman, 33, from Newcastleton, who was not seriously injured.

The female driver of the Ford Focus suffered cuts, bruises and shock.

In a statement, Ms Rennie’s family said: “Rebecca liked to live life to the full. She was greatly loved by her family – Mum Shelia, Dad Peter, sister Emma and brother Iain, boyfriend Nicky Gardner and many friends.

“She had a lovely, bubbly personality. Rebecca liked taking photos, especially of friends, family, her cat and dog. She was looking forward to spending Christmas with her family.”

The 23-year-old was on her way to work at the Razzamataz Theatre School in Carlisle, where she had been for six years. Her boss Denise Hutton Gosney said: “She was the most lovely friend and colleague and the most dedicated girl. She was so much older than her years. She is irreplaceable.”

Friend and former workmate Angela Blaylock said: “She was absolutely lovely, the nicest person you could meet. It was her 23rd birthday on Monday. She never had a bad word to say about anybody – she was so beautiful, a little angel.”

Mr McQueen was born in Dumfries and lived in Dalry until five years ago when he met his wife Laura and moved to Lochside, Dumfries. His wife said: “He was just a big kid at heart.”

She said the couple wed the day before his 40th birthday: “This was so he would never forget his anniversary.”

Emergency services spent several hours at the crash scene and the road was closed all day.