Teen dancer, 18, dies after airbag ‘smashed into her face as she reached for phone under car seat’

A TEENAGE dancer has died after an airbag allegedly deployed into her face as she was reaching down for her phone.

Kelly Caruana, 18, had been a passenger in a Renault Clio when the car crashed into a barrier in Malta.

The tragedy unfolded after the driver, 20, lost control and careened of the road – colliding with a barrier.

But her devastated family claim it was the force of the airbag smashing into their daughter’s face which caused the injuries that killed her.

Emergency services raced to the crossing at Triq tal-Bajjada in the southern city of Qormi at around 8:15pm.

Cops said the driver, a man from Birkirkara in eastern Malta, was seriously injured in the crash.

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Both Kelly and the driver were rushed to Mater Dei Hospital.

But the teenager tragically passed away nine days later on August 29.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud has launched an investigation into the death.

No post-mortem has been released and police have not yet confirmed whether the victim had been reaching for her phone when she was struck by the airbag.

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Heartbreaking tributes have poured in for “gentle and beautiful” Kelly.

Hailing from the port town of Paola, the teen was a dancer with Lookstar Dancers Tarxien and performed in the country’s carnival festivities.

Devastated family and friends gathered for her funeral on September 5.

Her family asked mourners to avoid dark colours and instead wear white shirts or T-shirts with blue jeans.

They also requested that only white flowers be sent.

Meagan Caruana wrote in a public post: “We emphasise this because Kelly was pure, gentle and beautiful, just like an angel.

“We imagine Heaven as a place filled with light and white, and we want her final farewell to reflect that purity and the beautiful soul she was.

“Let us surround her with white, light and love, as we say goodbye to our precious princess. Fly high, Kelly.

“You will forever be loved, forever missed, and forever our little princess.”

Her childhood friend Maya X Shay also gave an emotional tribute, saying “I wish I could have one more conversation with you, one more laugh, one more moment.