Girl, 16, killed in car crash between two vehicles as police arrest 42-year-old man

Police have released the name of a teenager who died in a two-car crash last weekend, with the driver of one of the cars arrested.

Sophie Laing, 16, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, died at about 1.30pm on Saturday after a collision on the M73 near the Gartcosh junction.

She was a backseat passenger in one of the two cars involved, which was traveling northbound.

Sophie and the 62-year-old driver of the vehicle she was in were taken by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

The teen died a short time later.

PC Paul Mallon, from Lanarkshire Road Policing Unit, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Sophie’s family and friends at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy be respected’

The 62-year-old had to be treated in hospital. A 42-year-old man driving the other car was unharmed and was arrested for a traffic violation.

He was later released pending further investigation.

The road was closed for about seven hours for an investigation into the accident and reopened around 8:40 p.m.

Sophie’s friends have paid tribute to a “sweet, kind girl” who will be “really missed.”

One of them wrote: ‘So sad to hear this tragic news (…) She was a beautiful, kind girl. You will really be missed. I offer my sincere condolences to her family.”

PC Paul Mallon, from Lanarkshire Road Policing Unit, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Sophie’s family and friends at this difficult time and we ask that their privacy be respected.

“Our investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances and I would urge anyone with information that may help to contact the officers.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 1665 dated January 28.