An 18-year-old dancer died after an airbag reportedly struck her in the face while she reached under a car seat for her phone during a crash in Malta. Kelly Caruana was a passenger in a Renault Clio when the 20-year-old driver lost control and hit a barrier.
Injuries and death
Caruana was taken to hospital with severe injuries, but her condition worsened. She died nine days after the crash, according to NeedToKnow. Details gathered by Malta's national broadcaster TVMnews suggested she had leaned down to collect her phone from underneath the seat when the collision occurred.
The broadcaster stated that the force of the airbag inflating into her face, rather than the impact with the barrier, led to her fatal injuries. Authorities have not publicly verified the account involving her phone and the airbag, and no final post-mortem cause of death has been disclosed.
Funeral and tributes
Caruana, from Paola, Malta, was a performer with Lookstar Dancers Tarxien and had participated in the nation's Carnival festivities. She was laid to rest on Saturday, September 5, as family and friends gathered for her final farewell.
Her relatives asked mourners to avoid dark colours and instead wear white shirts or T-shirts paired 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."
Her childhood friend Maya X Shay said she was struggling to come to terms with saying goodbye. She wrote: "I wish I could have one more conversation with you, one more laugh, one more moment. Today I had to say goodbye, but I know I'll never forget you. Thank you for being a part of my life and for leaving me with memories that I'll treasure forever."
Crash details and investigation
The crash occurred at approximately 8.15pm on August 21 in Triq tal-Bajjada, Qormi. Officers said the motorist, a man from Birkirkara, sustained serious injuries after losing control of the vehicle. Both passengers received medical care at the scene before being transported to Mater Dei Hospital by ambulance. Caruana was pronounced dead late on August 29.
Magistrate Joe Mifsud has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collision, while police investigations continue.
