A TEENAGE girl seriously injured in a one-vehicle collision on a rural North-East road has died in hospital.

Police received a report that a silver Nissan Pixo had collided with a tree near the village of Edlingham, in Northumberland, at about 8.30pm on Monday.

Emergency services attended the scene, on the B6341 between Alnwick and Rothbury. and the 18-year-old male driver and his 17-year-old female passenger were taken to hospital.

The Northumbria force said the young woman, who remained in hospital in a critical condition since the collision, “sadly she passed away surrounded by her family”, on Thursday.

She was today named by police as Chelsea Gillie,from Berwick.

Her family, who are being supported by specialist officers, have released a statement paying tribute to their daughter.

They said: “Chelsea was a daughter, sister and friend who was taken too soon from all those who loved her.

“She had her whole life ahead of her.

“Sleep tight and rest in peace baby girl.”

The driver, who was not seriously injured, was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released under investigation.

Sergeant Neil Graham, of Northumbria Police’s motor patrols department, appealed for anyone who may have seen the vehicle on Monday evening to contact police.

He said: “This is a tragic incident that has sadly resulted in a young girl losing her life just a couple of months before her 18th birthday.

“Her family are understandably devastated by what has happened and have been by her side in hospital right until the end.

“We are continuing to carry out inquiries so we can find out exactly what has happened and provide them with some answers at this difficult time.

“But we still need to speak to anyone who may have seen the Nissan Pixo being driven in the Edlingham and Longframlington areas on Monday evening.

Anyone who wants to report information to police can do so, online, at the Northumbria Police website quoting log 1095 26/10/20.

Callers can also use the non-emergency 101 phone line.