Irish toddler dies, parents critically ill after UK crash

An Irish couple remain critically in in Devon following a road crash in which their two-year-old son died.

The couple are in a “critical life threatening condition” in hospital, a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said.

A Polish man in his 20s also died when his black Vectra collided at speed with the family’s Irish registered-car in Devon at around 2.45pm.

He was arrested by police before being taken to hospital, where he subsequently died.

“The members of the family are in a critical life-threatening condition in Derriford and Torbay hospitals,” Paul Netherton, assistant chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police said.

“We are trying to identify their next of kin in southern Ireland to inform them, and the next of kin for the gentleman who has died have been informed and our thoughts are obviously with the families involved at this time,” he said.

The incident was witnessed by a police officer who was on the scene.

“The black Vectra was coming down the hill and appears to have swerved into the path of the oncoming car,” Mr Netherton said.

He described the incident as “extremely traumatic”

“Emergency services were working on the family at the scene and subsequently in ambulances and at the hospital,” he said.

The adverse weather conditions throughout the UK did not contribute to the cause of the collision, he said.

As the driver of a police car witnessed the crash, the force has referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as a matter of course. The officer’s police car had not been pursuing the vehicles.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said that the Irish Embassy in London is assisting the family of the victims.

The names of the Irish family have not yet been released.