Two Die In South Devon Crash

A two-year-old child and a man have been killed in a head-on collision in Devon which has left the child's parents fighting for their lives.

The collison happened in Hamelin Way, Torquay, at around 2.45pm on Friday 6th July.

A black Vauxhall Vectra driven by a Polish man, 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 remained in a "critical life threatening condition'' in hospital and police were working to contact their next of kin, who were believed to be on holiday in the area.

The incident was witnessed by a police officer driving a patrol car.

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

The driver of the Vauxhall Vectra 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.

LISTEN HERE: Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton

Paul Netherton, Assistant Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police, described the incident as "extremely traumatic'', he praised the work of all the emergency services who attended the scene.

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

The road will remain closed while the vehicles are recovered and forensic examinations took place.

Mr Netherton said because 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 any of the vehicles involved in the crash.

Any witnesses are asked to call police on 101 and quote log 0405 of July 6th.