TRIBUTES have been paid to a 17-year-old girl who died in last night's horrifying crash.

Olivia Alkir came from the Efenechtyd area. She had been appointed deputy head girl at Ysgol Brynhyfryd and was excited about going to university to study architectural engineering.

The crash involving two cars – a red coloured Ford Fiesta and a black coloured C Class Mercedes - happened on the B5105 between Efenechtyd and Ruthin at about 7.30pm on Thursday, June 27.

Olivia was a rear passenger in the Ford Fiesta and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The three other occupants of the Fiesta - the 17-year-old male driver and 16 and 17-year-old female passengers - were airlifted to hospital in Stoke with serious injuries.

The male driver, 52, and female passenger, 76, from the Mercedes were taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

In a statement, Olivia's family said: "Olivia was a fun loving, wise, ambitious individual. She was loved by all who knew her. She took huge pride in everything she did and was recently recognised for her tenacity and dedication by being appointed deputy head girl at Ysgol Brynhyfryd. A post she would have undoubtedly excelled in.

“Olivia was kind, thoughtful and excited by the prospect of going to University to study architectural engineering.

"Olivia worked as a lifeguard and planned to fund her studies by continuing this. She was a natural ‘water baby’ having spent her summers in her father’s native Turkey where she would spend the days swimming in the sea.

“She had a uniquely unbreakable bond with her adoring parents and was cherished by her cousins, friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

“Although her life has been cut tragically short, she filled her seventeen years with a life-time of achievements.

“Olivia was beautiful inside and out and the world was a better place because of her.”

Brynhyfryd’s headteacher Geraint Parry also paid tribute to Olivia.

"Olivia was a wonderful young lady. She had a lust for life with a bright future ahead of her," he said.

"Olivia was studying Physics, Mathematics, Geography and the Welsh Baccalaureate at A Level. She was a gifted and talented student and was already planning to study architectural engineering at university.

"Olivia had many interests and represented the school in swimming galas, cross country and hockey tournaments, and was also a lifeguard at the Leisure Centre and a qualified swimming instructor.

"Olivia was a friend to all of her peers, was well liked and was a very popular member of our school community. She was a kind, articulate, bubbly and charismatic student with an amazing future ahead of her.

"She will be sorely missed and the thoughts and prayers of everyone here at Brynhyfryd are with her family and friend."

North Wales Police continue to appeal for witnesses to the collision.

Chief Inspector Alun Oldfield of North Wales Police said: “Our thoughts remains with the family of the young woman and everybody else involved in this collision.

“Our investigation is underway and we would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have witnessed the collision or events leading up to it.

"We are also keen on speaking to anybody who may have been travelling in the area and who may have dash cam footage."

The investigation is ongoing and any witnesses are asked to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit on 101 or via the live web chat by quoting reference number X089432.