Family killed in Spanish road crash

The Eastwood family was on holiday in Spain

Three members of a British family have died in a car crash on a Spanish motorway.

Nigel Eastwood, his wife Rebecca and their seven-year-old son, Alexander, all from Staffordshire, were killed in the accident at Sanxenxo, near Pontevedra, in the Galicia region of north-west Spain.

Their 22-month-old daughter, Cecily, survived the accident but is in hospital with a broken leg.

Dr Eastwood, 40, and his 37-year-old wife, of Hartnell Lane, Rough Close, Stoke-on-Trent, were on a family holiday in the region when the accident happened.

Cecily's grandparents are travelling to Spain

Spanish police say the crash involved a four-car-pile-up and appeared to have been caused by a car which was overtaking.

Two Spanish people also died in the accident.

Police are now looking for the driver of the car which was overtaking.

A spokesman for the Guardia Civil said: "The car did not stop after the accident and we are looking for it.

"The mother of the English family was driving the car at the time of the accident. It was a Spanish hire car Citroen Xsara."

'Lovely family'

Mrs Eastwood's parents are preparing to fly to Spain to bring Cecily home.

Her father, Hammy Armstrong, said his granddaughter was thought to be fit enough to travel.

Mr Armstrong, who lives in Rutland said: "We are devastated.

"They were a young, well-educated couple, and a lovely family and all of that is gone now."

'Highly respected'

Nextdoor neighbour Pauline Cotton added: "It is so dreadful. I used to hear the children playing in the garden."

Dr Eastwood was a consultant in anaesthesia at North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary in Stoke-on-Trent.

Dr Nick Coleman, clinical director of anaesthesia for the North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust, said: "Nigel Eastwood was both a highly-respected, highly-valued colleague and a friend to many of his colleagues in the department.

"We are devastated by the news and he will be greatly missed."