A professional footballer has been arrested after two boys were killed in a crash on the M6 in Staffordshire.

 

The brothers, aged eight and 10, died after a Toyota Previa people carrier careered down an embankment following a collision with a Range Rover.

 

Plymouth Argyle said it was "aware of an incident" involving a player.

 

The arrested man, believed to be Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick, is being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

 

Club statement

 

The 37-year-old Previa driver, the boys' father, is in a serious condition in hospital.

 

The crash happened between junctions 15 and 16 of the motorway near Keele services at shortly before 0545 BST on Saturday.

 

The three other occupants of the people carrier - a 49-year-old man and his sons, aged eight and 15 - were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

 

The six are from the Manchester area and they were travelling to Silverstone in Northamptonshire when the crash happened, Staffordshire Police said.

 

The man arrested at the scene of the crash was the driver of the Range Rover, and he was not hurt in the collision, police said.

 

The motorway was closed southbound between junctions 16 and 15 following the incident and reopened at lunchtime on Saturday.

 

One boy was pronounced dead at the scene and the other died at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

 

In a statement, Plymouth Argyle said: "The club is aware of an incident involving one of our players that occurred on Saturday morning on the M6.

 

"As the incident is subject to police inquiries, the club feels it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this stage."

 

Later the club added that it wished to send its condolences the family and friends of the two boys who have died.

 

"They are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time," the club said.

 

Luke McCormick is a former England youth international and was twice voted the club's young player of the season.

 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Central Motorways Police Group.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/7441622.stm

The guy has been charged this evening with two counts of Death by Dangerous Driving.

He plays for my local team, Plymouth Argyle.

Its a complete tragedy that these two young lads lost their lives, and it really makes you think of the dangers of drink driving, even with the smallest amount of alcohol.

Player charged after crash deaths

 

The brothers and their father were going for a day out

 

Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick has been charged after two brothers died in a crash on the M6.

 

Arron and Ben Peak, aged 10 and eight, died when the vehicle they were travelling in crashed with his Range Rover in Staffordshire on Saturday.

 

Mr McCormick has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance.

 

The boys' mother, Amanda Peak, said their family was "devastated".

 

Their 37-year-old father Philip is in hospital in a serious but stable condition with fractures to his neck and back, broken ribs, bruising and swelling to his lungs.

 

He was driving the Toyota Previa people carrier when the crash happened between junctions 15 and 16 of the southbound motorway near Keele services at shortly before 0545 BST.

 

The brothers and their father had been travelling from their home in Partington, Manchester, to Silverstone racing circuit for a day out.

 

'Parent's nightmare'

 

Mrs Peak, 30, was too distressed to speak at a police press conference on Sunday.

 

A statement was read out on behalf of her and her husband by police family liaison officer PC Andy Kavanagh.

 

It said Arron "loved life, especially football, at which he excelled, and Ben was a happy, loving son and brother".

 

"No parent should ever have to go through the nightmare that we have gone through.

 

"Nothing will ever compensate us for the loss we are feeling."

 

They appealed to be left alone to come to terms with the "life-changing event that has devastated our lives".

 

Three other people in the vehicle were all released from hospital on Saturday and returned home.

 

Police appealed on Sunday for anyone who saw the "manner of driving" of either vehicle before the collision or can help with the movements of anybody involved in the incident in the previous 24 or 48 hours.

 

Police said it appeared the collision had happened in lane two when the Toyota left the carriageway on the near side, going down an embankment and colliding with trees.

 

Mr McCormick was remanded in custody to appear before Fenton magistrates at 1000 BST on Monday.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/7442783.stm

really sad for all concerned....

but one thing dont drink and drive