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| Family of French motorway crash victims: we've been torn apart | Family of French motorway crash victims: we've been torn apart |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The family of a man who died with his two young children in a car crash on a French motorway said their lives had been “torn apart” by the incident and “will never be the same again”. | The family of a man who died with his two young children in a car crash on a French motorway said their lives had been “torn apart” by the incident and “will never be the same again”. |
| John Crompton, 31, and his son Morgan Lund, nine, and daughter Evie-Lily Crompton, four, were killed in a crash on the A39 near Beaurepaire-en-Bresse, which is between Lyon and Dijon, shortly after 7am on Sunday. | John Crompton, 31, and his son Morgan Lund, nine, and daughter Evie-Lily Crompton, four, were killed in a crash on the A39 near Beaurepaire-en-Bresse, which is between Lyon and Dijon, shortly after 7am on Sunday. |
| Another son, Kyle, two, remains seriously ill in hospital, along with the dead children’s mother, Makayla Lund, 25, who is understood to have suffered minor injuries and is in a stable condition. | Another son, Kyle, two, remains seriously ill in hospital, along with the dead children’s mother, Makayla Lund, 25, who is understood to have suffered minor injuries and is in a stable condition. |
| A statement released on behalf of the family said: “A devastating tragedy has left our family heartbroken forever. Our lives have been torn apart and will never be the same again. | A statement released on behalf of the family said: “A devastating tragedy has left our family heartbroken forever. Our lives have been torn apart and will never be the same again. |
| “We have lost the heart of our family. As a family we ask for our privacy to be respected at this extremely difficult time.” | “We have lost the heart of our family. As a family we ask for our privacy to be respected at this extremely difficult time.” |
| French investigators said that Crompton, from Hartlepool, Teesside, may have fallen asleep at the wheel before the family’s Nissan crashed through a safety barrier and struck a concrete pillar. | French investigators said that Crompton, from Hartlepool, Teesside, may have fallen asleep at the wheel before the family’s Nissan crashed through a safety barrier and struck a concrete pillar. |
| Lee Walker, headteacher at Barnard Grove primary school, which the two eldest children attended, said the school community was in total shock following the news of the tragedy. | |
| “Morgan was a Year 4 pupil who was an extremely popular member of his class, as well as the school in general,” he said. “His sense of humour, fun and positive attitude brought life and joy to all. Morgan took great pride in his work and was an outstanding sportsman with many other talents as well. | “Morgan was a Year 4 pupil who was an extremely popular member of his class, as well as the school in general,” he said. “His sense of humour, fun and positive attitude brought life and joy to all. Morgan took great pride in his work and was an outstanding sportsman with many other talents as well. |
| “Evie-Lily was in our nursery and was the most kind-hearted and caring girl you could ever wish to meet. She was always willing to go out of her way to help others and had lots of friends. Her beaming smile lit up our nursery every single day. | “Evie-Lily was in our nursery and was the most kind-hearted and caring girl you could ever wish to meet. She was always willing to go out of her way to help others and had lots of friends. Her beaming smile lit up our nursery every single day. |
| “The pupils and staff are heartbroken and we are all helping each other to come to terms with this devastating news. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family at this time.” | “The pupils and staff are heartbroken and we are all helping each other to come to terms with this devastating news. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family at this time.” |
| Cleveland police said they were helping the French authorities with their inquiries and liaising with colleagues from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They said family liaison officers would be supporting the families of the victims. | Cleveland police said they were helping the French authorities with their inquiries and liaising with colleagues from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They said family liaison officers would be supporting the families of the victims. |
| Friends of John Crompton left tributes to him on the Facebook group for the Hartlepool billiards and snooker club, of which he was a member. “Tragic tragic news, a family ripped apart far too young. I’m deeply shocked,” said Brian Trueman. | Friends of John Crompton left tributes to him on the Facebook group for the Hartlepool billiards and snooker club, of which he was a member. “Tragic tragic news, a family ripped apart far too young. I’m deeply shocked,” said Brian Trueman. |
| Colin Harrison wrote: “Heartbreaking news about one of the league’s top players. John Crompton and two of his children were tragically killed in a road accident in France. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Very talented and well liked man. RIP mate.” | |
| People close to the family established a fund to raise money to help the surviving family members. Writing on a GoFundMe page, Laura Austwicke, said: “Makayla and John’s family would like to thank everyone for their continuing kind words and support. Please keep praying for Makayla and baby Kyle’s recovery.” | People close to the family established a fund to raise money to help the surviving family members. Writing on a GoFundMe page, Laura Austwicke, said: “Makayla and John’s family would like to thank everyone for their continuing kind words and support. Please keep praying for Makayla and baby Kyle’s recovery.” |
| Witnesses of the crash, which occurred at around 7.30am in the morning, said that driving conditions were good and described watching the car veer off the road and crash through the safety barrier. | Witnesses of the crash, which occurred at around 7.30am in the morning, said that driving conditions were good and described watching the car veer off the road and crash through the safety barrier. |
| George Bos, who was in charge of the rescue operation, said: “The first observations seem to indicate that the car drifted to the security fence on the right and landed on the pier of the bridge for unknown reasons. We imagine that the father may have fallen asleep or that he may have been distracted by something and moved aside.” | George Bos, who was in charge of the rescue operation, said: “The first observations seem to indicate that the car drifted to the security fence on the right and landed on the pier of the bridge for unknown reasons. We imagine that the father may have fallen asleep or that he may have been distracted by something and moved aside.” |
| In an interview with the France 3 TV channel on Sunday, a member of the emergency services said two of the children were dead when they arrived and the father was trapped. | In an interview with the France 3 TV channel on Sunday, a member of the emergency services said two of the children were dead when they arrived and the father was trapped. |
| He was said to have died from a heart attack minutes after he was released from the wreckage. Pictures showed a badly mangled family Nissan which was ripped apart after initially hitting a safety barrier. | He was said to have died from a heart attack minutes after he was released from the wreckage. Pictures showed a badly mangled family Nissan which was ripped apart after initially hitting a safety barrier. |