THE York family of a student knocked down and killed by a police car on a 999 call today paid tribute to a "dearly loved daughter, sister and friend".

Emily Higson, 22, died from serious injuries suffered when she was knocked down by a patrol car at a road junction in Oxford.

The final year sociology and anthropology student at Oxford Brookes University died in the early hours of yesterday at John Radcliffe Hospital.

An investigation into the tragedy has been launched by Thames Valley Police and will be supervised by the Police Complaints Authority.

Her parents yesterday travelled from York to Oxford to be with her sister, Sophie, who is understood to live in the city.

They said that Emily "gave freely of her love, time and talents" and "touched the lives of all she met".

"We are devastated to have lost a wonderful, generous and gifted young woman who stood at the gateway of her adult life. But we give thanks for the privileges of knowing her and of sharing her life," they said.

The circumstances surrounding the tragedy at 11.30pm in Cowley Road, near her shared lodgings, are being investigated by members of Thames Valley Police's professional standards department.

It is understood that the male and female officers in the marked car, who were not injured, attempted to revive her after the collision but she died shortly afterwards in hospital.

A spokesman for the Police Complaints Authority said expert traffic officers had also been brought in to examine evidence at the scene.

Jonathan Forster, principal of Moreton Hall, the school for girls in Shropshire where Emily was educated, said the death was "an absolute tragedy".

He said: "Emily was a very well liked girl who had lots of friends. She was delightful, vivacious and clever and undoubtedly destined for great things.

"She is going to be very much missed by all her many friends and, of course, her family."

Emily's family live in York but both she and her sister, Sophie, were educated at Moreton Hall and her two brothers were pupils at Shrewsbury School, where it is understood her father was also educated.

A school prefect, Emily was a great sportswoman and represented Shropshire at lacrosse. She was also a talented musician.

Updated: 10:45 Tuesday, November 18, 2003