By Juliette MaxamTRIBUTES were paid last night to the manager of a popular restaurant who died in a car crash on her way home from work.Samantha Ross, 19, from Stanway, was killed after her blue MG ZR car left the road and crashed into a tree in Peldon.

By Juliette Maxam

TRIBUTES were paid last night to the manager of a popular restaurant who died in a car crash on her way home from work.

Samantha Ross, 19, from Stanway, was killed after her blue MG ZR car left the road and crashed into a tree in Peldon.

Miss Ross was returning home after a lunchtime shift at the Peldon Rose, where she was restaurant supervisor/assistant manager, on Friday when the accident happened.

Her devastated parents, Mark and Joanne, paid tribute last night to their eldest daughter, who had a passion for dancing, especially tap dancing.

Miss Ross had lived in Stanway since she was two years old and was a pupil at the village's primary school and secondary school, before going to Colchester Institute to study hospitality management and catering.

She then worked as trainee manager at the Harvester restaurant in Stanway before starting at the Peldon Rose a year ago. Her parents said she had enjoyed her job and loved working with people.

Miss Ross had been dancing since she was four years old and did modern, jazz, ballet and tap dancing. For the past five years she had been a member of the Colne Bank School of Dancing and she regularly entered competitions, winning cups and awards.

Her parents said: "We miss her, we will always love her and she will be with us always. It was a privilege to have had her for as long as we did."

Mrs Ross said her daughter's three grandparents would also miss her tremendously. She also leaves a sister, Lauren, aged 14.

The Peldon Rose was closed on Friday night as a mark of respect to Miss Ross and also because staff were upset. John Riddleton, general manager, said: "She'll be sorely missed by all her friends and colleagues."

The accident happened on Colchester Road at 3.20pm on Friday. Essex Ambulance Service sent the air ambulance, but Miss Ross was declared dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, a man was seriously ill in hospital last night after he was involved in a collision with a car in a town centre.

The 26-year-old man, from Colchester, was walking in Queen Street, Colchester, in the early hours of Saturday when he collided with a black Volkswagen Golf.

The car driver left without stopping, but later went to the police. He was arrested for failing to stop and report an injury road traffic accident before being released on police bail until July 1.

Anyone with information about either accident should contact Stanway traffic police on 01206 762512.

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk