A 21-year-old girl died instantly when she crashed her car into a tree coming home from a night out in northern Italy.

Victim Elisa Scaletti died instantly in the freak smash in the early hours of the morning on 15th January near her home in Villa di Tirano, Lombardy.

The crash happened just a day after Elisa’s mother Monica’s birthday but it is unknown if she had been celebrating at a party.

Elisa’s 19-year-old passenger – not named in local media – is being treated for injuries described as non-life threatening.

The student at the Istituto Tecnico Tecnologico high school in Sondrio, Elisa, has been described by local media as a “constantly smiling girl with a sunny spirit which was always there for others.”

Elisa – who had more than 2,000 followers on Instagram – has a 25-year-old sister.

Her mum Monica is a former member of the town council while her dad Massimiliano works as an electrician.

Friends of Elisa posted their farewell messages on social media, saying “Rest in peace little joy” and “How difficult it has become to get old today!”

Franco Colombin – the mayor of Villa di Tirano – is quoted as saying: “There are no words for a tragedy of such extent. These are news who never wish to hear. My son is one year older than Elisa.

“I cannot imagine the pain the Scaletti family is feeling right now. I know Elisa’s mother well. She was a councillor of the opposition party during my spell as vice mayor as well as during my first term as mayor until 2021. Monica has always been utterly correct and local beyond political issues.

“I haven’t found the courage yet to visit her family. However, I plan to do so in the coming days. The thoughts of each town council member are with the Scaletti family.”