Former All Black rugby star Jerry Collins, wife killed in French car crash; baby daughter critically injured

Paris

Former New Zealand All Black rugby star Jerry Collins has died after a bus collided with his car on Friday.

The 34-year-old Samoan born sportsman was travelling with his wife Alana Madill and their two-month-old daughter Ayla along a highway in Herault, southern France, when the accident occurred, according to the French newspaper Midi Libre.

His wife also died however their daughter was taken to the hospital of Montpellier in a critical condition.

The French publication reports that Collins is believed to have stopped his car after experiencing unknown technical problems, before a bus crashed straight into it at about 4:30am local time.

Pictures have emerged of the family's crumpled car which Midi Libre reported was thrown 10 metres from the impact, causing Collins and Mrs Madill to die instantly.

The bus drivers, who are in shock following the accident, managed to remove the baby from the wreckage before emergency services arrived.

'It is a travesty. Both Jerry and has partner have been killed. Their three-month-old baby is very badly injured. It is devastating news for his family and everybody,' Tim Castle, Collin's agent, told Stuff.co.nz.

Collins' cousin, Vincent Collins, also confirmed that the infant is in a critical condition in a heart-wrenching post on social media.

'In shock and disbelief after hearing of the passing of our beloved cousin Jerry Collins and his lovely wife. Wow! Did not see this one coming,' he wrote on Friday afternoon.

'I was just smiling and laughing with my fiancé at some of his cute pictures with his daughter a couple of days ago, and here we are talking about this sad news and tragedy.

'Don't know what else to say but please pray for their three-month-old daughter as she is in critical condition.' 

Two of the passengers on board the bus were also injured.

Tributes have already begun to flow in for the family from All Blacks players including Piri Weepu and Cory Jane.