A British father and two of his children have died in a crash in France after he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel.
The man’s wife and their youngest child were airlifted to hospital following the collision shortly after 7am local time on Sunday.
The young child is believed to be seriously injured.
The crash happened on the A39 in Beaurepaire-en-Bresse between Lyon and Dijon.
In an interview with the France3 TV channel, a member of the emergency services said two of the children were dead when they arrived and the father was trapped
The emergency service worker said the man died from a suspected heart attack minutes after he was released from the wreckage.
Pictures broadcast on French television showed a badly mangled family Nissan which was ripped apart after initially hitting a safety barrier.
An investigator told the TV channel the reason for the car hitting the barrier was as yet unknown, but it could have been caused by the driver falling asleep or being distracted.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are providing assistance following a road traffic accident in France, in which three British nationals have sadly died and two others have been hospitalised.
“We are working closely with local authorities and supporting the families at this difficult time.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
