Three Britons killed in collision with fuel tanker in Florida

Four young British cousins were seriously ill in hospital yesterday after a car crash in Florida that killed three of their parents. The accident happened when the hired people carrier that the two families were travelling in collided with a petrol tanker on a highway.

The two families were on a week's holiday in Orlando, Florida, and were staying in a rental home.

The driver, Charles Babson, 40, and his wife Dawn, 40, from Mitcham, Surrey, died instantly in the crash. Their son Robert, nine, was injured. Simeon Cole, from Essex, died at the Orlando Medical Centre with his wife Denise by his side. Their children Faith, five, Tony, seven, and Phoebe, nine, were critically ill in hospital.

The crash happened on the US27 Highway at Polo Park Boulevard, in Polk County near Davenport, yesterday morning.

A spokesman for Florida Highway Patrol said Mrs Babson had a map in her hand and it appeared her husband had missed a turning while looking for a grocery store to buy food and had tried to turn round.

He said the driver then turned back in front of the tanker, which was travelling southbound, and both vehicles slid across the highway and stopped in the northbound lanes. The police spokesman said there was very little left of the people carrier following the collision and it had been impounded for examination.

Phoebe, Faith and Tony were originally taken to Orlando Medical Centre where they were treated in intensive care.

Phoebe and Faith were transferred to the Arnold Palmer Hospital where their condition was critical but stable.

Robert Babson, whose condition was described as less serious, was taken to the Heart of Florida Hospital with a broken arm and other injuries, where he underwent surgery.

He was conscious and able to help police with information about his family. Mrs Cole and the couple's other young child were not in the people carrier at the time of the accident and were being comforted by British consulate staff in Orlando.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "I can confirm that three adults died and four children, all Britons, were injured after their hire car was involved in a fatal breakfast-time crash with a truck. Two adults died at the scene and a third adult did so later in hospital, his wife at his side.

"The four children, all understood to be under 10, were taken to hospital where at least three were placed in intensive care. Our consular staff in Orlando are assisting relatives and liaising with authorities regarding the care of the children."

The American tanker driver was not injured in the crash and is not facing any charges.

The two families had flown to Orlando on Friday and were due to holiday there for a week. Officials confirmed they were all members of the same family, but refused to give details of the relationship.

Police in Florida confirmed the children were cousins.