Player charged after crash deaths

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".

Luke McCormick is facing four charges

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.

The brothers and their father were going for a day out

"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.

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