Tribute has been paid to a “well-respected and well-liked” teenager who was killed in a head-on road accident in Fife.
The dead driver named locally as 18-year-old Jefferson Kettles of Falkland was on his way to work in Ladybank on Monday morning when the Peugeot 206 he was driving was involved in a crash with a Peugeot 207 near Cupar.
Mr Kettles died at the scene and the 51-year-old female driver of the other vehicle, who is understood also to be local, was rushed by ambulance to Ninewells Hospital where she was being treated for serious injuries.
A third vehicle ploughed into the debris from the crash but the occupant of that vehicle did not suffer serious injuries.
The accident at around 7.50am happened on a straight stretch of the A91, around 200 yards east of the former Robert Wiseman Dairies turn-off, near the Scottish Deer Centre.
Mr Kettles was a former pupil of Bell Baxter High School in Cupar.
Last night tribute was paid by friends and his boss, Des Brown, a director with GS Brown (Precision Engineers) Ltd in Ladybank.
Mr Brown said: “We are all devastated here. He was a well-respected, well-liked young guy. It’s tragic news. We are reeling from the news at the moment. It’s such a waste of a young life.
“He had been with us a few months. He was an engineering trainee at the start of his career.
“He had a promising career ahead of him that’s come to a short, tragic end. It’s very difficult to take in.”
Mr Brown added: “I’m looking around the shop floor here and most folk are glazed over. No one can believe it.”
Friends also posted tributes to Mr Kettles on social media sites.
The family asked for privacy to let them grieve.
Inspector Brenda Sinclair said: “This is a tragic loss for this young man’s family and I appeal for anyone who may have information about this accident to contact the police.
“Drivers may have seen these cars on the A91 this morning and I would encourage them to let us know any details they may have.”