Mum, son, 12, and daughter, 10, fighting for their lives after M5 horror crash that killed dad

A mother and her 12-year-old son and daughter, 10, are fighting for their lives after the M5 crash that also claimed the life of the childrens' father.

The siblings are in a "critical but stable condition in hospital", according to police.

A 42-year-old woman, believed to be the children's mother, is in intensive care, while their dad died in the crash which also killed three others.

The Seat Leon the family were travelling in was mangled when a Mercedes box van smashedthrough the central reservation and collided with oncoming traffic on the motorway between Gloucestershire and Bristol.

All three people in another car were killed in the horrific accident and police say it may "take some time" before formal identification can take place.

The truck driver, a man in his forties from Worcestershire, has been spoken to by officers.

Four people were killed in yesterday's horror crash (Image: Stephen Richards Photography)

Emergency workers are pictured at the crash site in south Gloucestershire today (Image: SWNS.com)

Inspector Frazer Davey, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Our thoughts remain with the families of all the victims of this tragic incident.

“A full investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of this collision, which involved a Mercedes box van and two cars.

“One of the victims was in a Seat Leon and three of the victims were in the second car, details of which we aren’t able to release at the moment."

He added that "specially trained family liaison officers" have been drafted in to support the families affected.

“Three people – a 42-year-old woman and two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital," he said.

The tragedy occurred when a lorry smashed through the central reservation and collided with oncoming vehicles (Image: SWNS.com)

“Specially trained family liaison officers are working hard to support and locate the next of kin of all the victims. This important work is ongoing and it may be some time before formal identification procedures can be concluded."

Witnesses described how hero drivers leapt from their cars and pulled screaming children from burning vehicles as emergency crews rushed to the stretch of road in south Gloucestershire.

According to a witness who rushed to help, the three survivors are a mum and two young kids. The youngsters' dad was reportedly found in the family's vehicle with "no pulse".