TRIBUTES have been paid to a woman who 'touched the hearts of everyone she met' following her death in a crash on the A66 last week.

Lauren McFarland, 30, died following the collision which occurred east of Keswick on the A66 at Burns Farm at around 8.50am on Thursday, January 11.

Following the tragic loss of Lauren, her family said: "Lauren was the beloved daughter of David and Paula and granddaughter of Cynthia, Billy and Helen.

"She will be sadly missed by many uncles, aunties, cousins, nieces, friends and colleagues. Lauren touched the hearts of everyone she met with her happy and outgoing personality."

Lauren was 'excited for her future', having recently moved into a new flat, following her recent return from her 'dream adventure' to the Himalayas.

Her family said: "She was a beautiful, caring and confident person who loved the outdoors and adventure.

"She had a new job she loved and had just returned from her dream adventure to the Himalayas and Everest Base Camp. She had recently moved into a new flat in a place she loved.

"She was, at last, in a happy place and was looking forward to a full and exciting future.

"Prematurely taken away from us, she will be sadly missed by all who knew her."

Cumbria Police said in a statement last Friday, January 12 that they had begun an investigation into the crash which involved a Fiat Punto and an ambulance.

A spokesperson said: "Cumbria Police is investigating a fatal two-vehicle collision.

"The driver of the Fiat – a woman in her 30s – died at the scene of the collision.

"The paramedics travelling in the ambulance were not seriously injured. The ambulance had no patients on board and was not on blue lights at the time of the collision."

A spokesperson for the North West Ambulance Service said in a statement: “This is a heartbreaking incident, and our sincere condolences go out to the patient’s family and friends and all those involved.

"We are fully supporting the police investigation into the incident.”

Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it quoting incident number 32 of January 11, 2024.