British mum-of-ten killed in horror crash on French motorway as ‘many children injured’
A British woman has tragically died in a motorway crash in France. At least three people, including a mum-of-ten, are among those who lost their lives in the collision on the A26 motorway in the northern part of the country.
Several children were among the casualties in the crash which happened in the evening on Sunday, July 30, police have said. The mother killed in the crash has been named locally as Miriam Posen, a mum-of-ten from Stamford Hill in North London.
Mrs Posen was travelling with several family members in a van at the time. Her husband, a respected local rabbi, was also among those seriously injured, Jewish news site Matzav reports.
A 75-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man were also killed in the horror crash. An emergency services spokesperson said: “Three people are dead and dozens injured, including many children.
“A van with a British family of seven people on board was one of the three vehicles involved in the crash. A 40-year-old British woman died instantly, along with two others travelling in another vehicle.
“The other passengers – aged between six and 48 – were taken to hospital in Cambrai and Arras.” Several victims in the crash, including a 14-year-old body, remained fighting for their lives in intensive care on Monday morning.
The collision happened shortly after 6pm on Sunday between the towns of Neuville-Saint-Vaast and Thélus, the Mirror reports.[2] A second vehicle contained four people, including the other woman and man killed. The other two passengers in this car were a 14-year-old boy and a 79-year-old man who were in a ‘critical condition’.
The third vehicle involved was a car with four passengers aged between six and 33. The section of the A26 motorway was closed off until late into the night on Saturday, as six emergency medical teams attended the scene.
Around 60 firefighters were also scrambled to the crash site and prosecutors in nearby Arras have launched an investigation into the collision. French regional state prefect Jacques Billant meanwhile said witnesses to the horrific crash were ‘being offered psychological counselling.’
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office said: “We are in contact with the local authorities following a road traffic accident in France and have offered our assistance to the family.”