Couple still critical after toddler death crash in Devon

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said that it is providing consular assistance to the family of an Irish toddler who died in a car crash in England yesterday afternoon.

The two-year-old boy and a man died following the head-on collision which has left the child’s parents fighting for their lives.

The high-speed crash happened in Hamelin Way, Torquay, Devon, at 2.45pm yesterday.

A black Vauxhall Vectra driven by a Polish man in his 20s, collided with the car, carrying the family-of-three from Ireland, between Gallows Gate and Kerswell Gardens.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said the mother and father, who are in their 30s, remained in a “critical life threatening condition” in hospital and police were working to contact their next of kin.

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

All four occupants of the cars were taken by air and land ambulances to Torbay Hospital in Torquay and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

The Polish man was arrested before being taken to hospital, where he subsequently died.

Police family liaison officers are with the family of the man, who lived in Torquay.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says the Irish Embassy in London is providing consular assistance to the family of the toddler.

Paul Netherton, Assistant Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, described the incident as “extremely traumatic”.

He added the adverse weather conditions being experienced throughout the country did not contribute to the cause of the collision.

The road was closed last night while the vehicles were recovered and forensic examinations took place, reopening at 2.30am.

Mr Netherton last night added: “This was an extremely traumatic incident where emergency services were working on the family at the scene and subsequently in ambulances and at the hospital and has been traumatic on all those involved.

“It was a head-on collision at speed. The black Vectra was coming down the hill and appears to have swerved into the path of the oncoming car.

“The members of the family are in a critical life-threatening condition in Derriford and Torbay hospitals.

“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.”