A woman killed in a crash with an ambulance has been named as a "beautiful, caring" 30-year-old who had just returned from the trip of a lifetime.
Lauren McFarland, 30, died after her Fiat Punto collided with an ambulance on the A66, east of Keswick, Cumbria, shortly before 9am on Thursday.
Sharing a photo of Lauren on Monday, her family revealed she had just moved into a new flat and had returned from a trip to Mount Everest, when the tragedy happened.
They paid tribute to her as a “beautiful, caring and confident person".
"Lauren was the beloved daughter of David and Paula and granddaughter of Cynthia, Billy and Helen," they said in a statement.
"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.
"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 is investigating the crash.
"The paramedics travelling in the ambulance were not seriously injured," said the force in a statement.
"The ambulance had no patients on board and was not on blue lights at the time of the collision."
Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it quoting incident number 32 of 11 January 2024.
