THE devastated family of a go-kart crash victim have paid tribute to a vibrant, fun-loving woman who had a promising future ahead of her. Tributes have been paid to beautiful 18-year-old Suzanne Cornwell of Limes Road, Hardwick who died when her scarf

THE devastated family of a go-kart crash victim have paid tribute to a "vibrant, fun-loving" woman who had a promising future ahead of her.

Tributes have been paid to "beautiful" 18-year-old Suzanne Cornwell of Limes Road, Hardwick who died when her scarf got caught in a go-kart and strangled her.

The tragedy took place on Thursday evening (December 10) at the Cambridgeshire Raceway indoor karting circuit in Royston Road, Caxton at about 9.40pm.

Suzanne, who was studying at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge, lived with father David, mother Wendy and older brother Stuart.

A statement released by her family on Tuesday afternoon (December 15) said the gap Suzanne leaves will never be filled.

It read: "Suzi was a vibrant, fun-loving young woman with a promising future ahead of her. As a family, we are absolutely devastated and battling to come to terms with this tragedy.

"Suzi played a pivotal role in this family, not only as a daughter and sister, but also helping to care for her father with Parkinson's Disease. The gap she leaves will never be filled. We would be very grateful if we could be left in peace to try and come to terms with what has happened."

Suzanne was one of six teenagers invited to the track by a track marshal after normal opening hours.

But Suzanne's scarf came loose while speeding round the track, and was caught in the engine of her kart cutting off her airways.

She suffered a severe injuries to her neck and was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but died the next day.

Phil Meakins, company secretary for Cambridgeshire Raceway, said the karting site had been temporarily closed for ''moral'' reasons.

The employee who let the teenagers into the site has been sacked and Cambridgeshire police have launched an investigation with South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Friend Will Hitchcock, 20, of Cambourne, who was one of the youngsters at the racetrack on Thursday night, said the accident was ''horrific to witness''.

He wrote on his Facebook page: ''It's something I'll never forget and I just can't believe she's gone. I'm finding it hard to come to terms with what happened.

''I'm never going to forget that night and the way she was. As time goes by the feelings get worse and worse.

''It's like I'm given the choice of remembering her having the accident, fitting or in the chapel of rest. It's seriously starting to get to me.''

Friends have paid tribute to Suzanne describing the teenager as an ''absolutely gorgeous girl'' who would be sorely missed.

Suzanne's former school Comberton Village College held a vigil for her on Sunday night.

A series of touching online tributes called her ''an amazing angel'' who will ''forever be in the hearts of everyone you simply smiled at''.