A YOUNG woman has been killed by a driver in a hit-and-run accident in Tottenham.

Nicoleta Vlas, a 23-year-old Moldovan student who was living in Holloway Road, was knocked down by a car at the junction of Seven Sisters Road and Greenfield Road on May 17, but died from her injuries more than a week later.

She was studying a six-month English language course at the London Skills Institute based in Seven Sisters Road and was due to finish in July.

Registrar of the institute, Martin Heal, this week paid tribute to Nicoleta. He said: "It is very sad, she was a very, very nice girl.

"She was a good and popular student who was keen and anxious to make progress.

"Her classmates are very upset. The whole school was devastated to hear this terrible news."

Nicoleta was walking with a man in his 20s at the time of the accident. He sustained head and neck injuries.

They were both taken to the North Middlesex Hospital in Edmonton but Nicoleta was later transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead to be treated for serious head injuries.

Her father flew to the UK from Moldova after hearing about the accident, but arrived after she was pronounced dead at 2.10am on Sunday.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information about the collision, which happened at 10.55pm. The car was seen heading in the direction of Tottenham High Road following the incident.

An inquest into Nicoleta's death was opened and adjourned at Hornsey Coroner's Court.

The man who was walking with Nicoleta has now been discharged from hospital.

If you have any information that could help police inquiries, call Sgt Mick Bute of the Collision Investigation Unit at Chadwell Heath Traffic Garage on 8345 4922.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

May 29, 2003 11:30