By Cheryl Wood and Graham Brown

STUDENTS AT Elmwood College in Cupar were in shock yesterday at the news two of their fellow students had been killed in a road accident.

Duncan Beaton and Robert Jamieson (both 18) were named as the victims of a three-car collision near Guardbridge on Tuesday night.

The grey Renault Clio they were travelling in collided with a Renault Megane going in the opposite direction on the A91 and a third vehicle then collided with the original accident.

The middle-aged woman driving the Megane, who had to be cut from her car, was taken to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, with serious but not life-threatening injuries. A male in the third vehicle sustained slight injuries.

Duncan, from the Forfar area, was a second year agricultural engineering student on block release, and worked at Netherton Tractors, located on the A90 between Forfar and Brechin, in Angus.

Robert, from Darvel, Ayrshire, was an HNC sports coaching student.

The pair met while staying in the college residence and were travelling from Cupar to St Andrews when the collision occurred, 500 yards east of Guardbridge around 10pm.

Staff at the residence and teaching staff described Robert as a likeable and sociable boy who loved playing golf. Duncan was also said to be popular and staff described him as great company and a joy to work with.

College principal Jim Crooks said he was deeply saddened by the deaths and added, “My thoughts, and those of all Elmwood staff, are with their families right now.”

The road was closed for over five hours following the accident. Police said yesterday they were continuing their investigations into the circumstances.

An appeal was issued for anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the Clio between 9.45 and 10 pm to contact police on 01592 251111.

Friends of both were paying tribute to them yesterday on their Bebo pages, where Robert called himself ‘Notorious Bob’ and spoke of his love of golf.

Duncan’s site revealed the teenager’s love of Rangers.

One pal described his Ibrox-daft friend as a “legend” in a posting yesterday morning, after news of the tragedy had filtered through to the communities of Angus and Fife.