Brit woman killed in French road smash is named as Jewish mother-of-ten from Stamford Hill: Victim was among three killed when van carrying seven members of same UK family collided with two other cars
- At least three people lost their lives in smash and ‘many children’ were injured
- British victim was named as Miriam Posen, a mother-of-ten from Stamford Hill
A British mother-of-ten is among the dead and injured after three vehicles were caught up in a horror crash in northern France.
At least three people are among those who lost their lives in the collision on the A26 motorway, south of Lens, on Sunday evening.
The British victim’s identity was reported by the Jewish Chronicle as Miriam Posen, of the Orthodox Jewish community in Stamford Hill, London, who was travelling in a van containing seven members of her family.
Her age is unclear but local sources claimed she was 49 years old.
Two of Miriam’s daughters are known to have been injured in the smash and are receiving treatment along with the children’s father, it is understood.
A spokesman for local emergency services who attended the crash site 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 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.’
At least three people, including a woman from the UK, are among those who lost their lives in the collision on the A26 motorway, south of Lens, on Sunday evening.
Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the crash yesterday evening
A man believed to be Miriam’s son paid tribute to the victim on social media earlier today.
‘My mother sadly passed away yesterday in tragic circumstances. She was young and healthy and full of the spirit of life. I loved her so much,’ he wrote.
An FCDO spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We are in contact with the local authorities following a road traffic accident in France and have offered our assistance to the family.’
The accident took place on Sunday, shortly after 6pm, on a section of the motorway where road works were taking place, between the towns of Neuville-Saint-Vaast and Thélus.
A second vehicle contained four people, a 75-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man, who also died.
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, including three children, aged between six and 33.
Prosecutors in nearby Arras have opened an enquiry into the accident.
French regional state prefect Jacques Billant said witnesses to the horrific crash were ‘being offered psychological counselling.’
A source said that some survivors remained in a ‘life threatening position’ in intensive care on Monday morning.
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 to try to rescue the victims.
An investigation has been launched to try and determine the cause of the accident.
The incident occurred at the height of the holiday season, when thousands of British drivers make their way across the Channel.