A teenage girl was killed and a man was left in a critical condition after yet another fatal car crash on the Penryn by-pass.

Fifteen-year-old Kathryn Price died in the accident between the Hillhead and Asda roundabouts at around 10.15pm on Sunday. She was a rear seat passenger in a dark blue Honda Civic driven by Steven Harris who was taken to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, with head injuries. Mr Harris, 20, from Conway Road, Falmouth, works in the meat department at Asda. Kathryn, who lived in Foxstanton Drive, Penryn, with her mother, Alicia Watts, and step-father, Tony Watts, was a Penryn College student and was popular among her classmates and staff.

Kathryn's natural father was Steve Price and she also had two brothers, Andrew and Lennon.

Another passenger in the car, a 20-year-old man, also from Falmouth, was described by police as "walking wounded" but has not been identified.

The cause of the accident - which has shocked Penryn - is not clear and a police investigation is under way. But witnesses are being sought and police are keen to trace the occupants of another car as they may have important information which could help with the inquiry.

Inspector Tim Sargent, of Camborne Traffic Centre, said: "We are anxious to trace a light blue Honda which may be an Accord or Integra model.

"The car has a Honda sticker on the rear near side body panel. It is unusual in that the H is white and the remaining letters o, n, d, a are in red. The sticker is about 12 inches long."

"From the inquiries we have made so far I believe it is likely that they may be able to help us piece together what happened.

"We would also like to speak to anyone who travelled on the road between 10pm and 10.30pm that night."

The accident happened just 14 months after a multiple pile-up on the Penryn by-pass left one dead and a number of people seriously injured and very near to where a woman from Gwendreath, near Ruan Minor, died in 2004. She was June Warren, 46, a mother of four, who was a bus driver.

Yesterday, tributes were made to Kathryn. Her family said that she was a "beautiful and bubbly girl who was full of life."

Kathryn's nan, Celia Prynn of Greenwood Road, Penryn, said: "She was so full of life and a typical teenager and had lots of friends. We are a very big family and we all loved her so much. It has not really sunk in yet and we keep expecting her to walk in through the door.

"She would speak to anybody and was so easy to make friends with. She had a short but happy life and was a good daughter and granddaughter and would always do what she was told, making sure she was home when she said she would be."

Mrs Prynn also said that Kathryn had been planning a career in child care and hoped to go to college at either Camborne or Truro one she had completed her education in Penryn.

Kathryn's cousin, Clare Pinhay, who on Monday placed flowers at the spot where the accident happend, said: "She was an angel and was so popular both in and out of school. But she was popular for all the right reasons. Nothing was too much trouble for her and she had friends all over Cornwall.

"She also had a dimple just below her eye which you could see every time she smiled. It was one of the most noticeable things about her. I will miss her more than I can say."

Marie Hunter, headteacher at Penryn College, told the Packet: "She was a lovely girl and was so full of life. Her death is a real tragedy. All of our thoughts are with her family and friends at this dreadful time."

As the Packet went to press last night a post-mortem was due to be carried out. Mr Harris was still in a critical condition at Derriford Hospital.

A mountain of flowers and cards has been left at the side of the road where Kathryn died, showing how well known and popular she was.

Anyone with further information about the incident should call the police on 08452 777444 quoting log number 1439 130806. Yesterday a police spokesman would not deny or confirm that a burned out vehicle found in Trescobeas Road, Falmouth, late on Sunday night was connected with the incident.