Tributes have been paid to a teenager who died following a collision that also left her boyfriend critically injured.

Police inquiries are continuing into the crash on Friday night which claimed the life of 19-year-old Katie Robley.

Her boyfriend, Jay Waters, aged 20, is in a stable but critical condition at Noble’s Hospital.

The Manx Telecom store in Douglas, where Katie had started work as a sales and technical consultant just three months ago, was closed on Sunday as a mark of respect and at noon yesterday (Monday) MT staff held a one-minute’s silence.

The couple were heading home to the south of the island at 10.30pm when their Ford Fiesta was involved in a collision with a Renault van, heading in the opposite direction, on the A5 just south of the Santon Motel.

Police said the driver of the van, a 25-year-old man, is being treated in Noble’s Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Katie, a former pupil of Castle Rushen High School, died in hospital.

One of her friends posted: ’You were one of the most kind and caring souls. Forever looking at how you could help others before yourself. Forever reminding people how amazing they were.’

Another close friend said: ’You were the light that lit up any room. You were loved by many.

’We had an amazing 12-13 years of friendship and I will never forget how much of an impact you have made on my life.’

Katie’s auntie Alice posted: ’She loved her family and she loved her friends. She loved her boyfriend as well - my thoughts are with his incredibly kind family too and I hope he pulls through.’

Gary Lamb, Manx Telecom chief executive officer, said: ’We have sent our deepest condolences to Katie’s family.

’Our thoughts are also very much with Katie’s boyfriend, Jay Waters, and his family.

’Katie had been part of the Manx Telecom family for only three months, working with our close-knit shop team as a sales and technical consultant.

’Katie quickly made her mark and showed great potential.

’Her colleagues grew accustomed to Katie’s kind heart and loving personality and she was cherished by her shop colleagues who describe her as a "mother hen".

’Katie will be truly missed by all who knew her at Manx Telecom and everyone in the company will mourn the loss of this young life, full of promise.’

Manx Telecom staff affected by the news are being offered grief counselling and support.

The road was closed for eight hours following the crash while accident investigations were carried out.

Detective Sergeant Alan Shimmin said: ’The investigation is still ongoing at this time and it is requested that the privacy of both families are respected at this difficult time.’

He added that the family wanted to publicly thank the emergency services for what they did that evening and the continued support and help they have received from the hospital staff.

The main Douglas to Castletown road at Santon was closed again the following afternoon after another crash happened near the same location.

No one was seriously injured in that second collision but traffic had to be diverted while a pylon was replaced.