Man dies and one-year-old girl fighting for life after van crashes into car

A man has died and a one-year-old girl is fighting for her life after a van crashed into a broken-down car. 

A Citroen Grand C4 Picasso was hit by a Mercedes Sprinter van on the southbound carriageway of the A34, in Sutton Scotney, Hampshire, on Friday at about 3.13pm. 

The driver of the Citroen, a man aged in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman and two children who were travelling in the same car were also injured. 

One of the children, a one-year-old girl, is in hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

The 33-year-old van driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and causing serious injury by careless driving.

He has since been released on bail.    

Detective Sergeant Oliver Cahill-Smith, of Hampshire Police's Joint Operations Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'First and foremost, our thoughts are with the victims of this collision, one who has sadly died and another who is in a critical condition in hospital, and their loved ones at this extremely difficult time.

'We are carrying out a thorough investigation to establish exactly what happened. We know there were a number of motorists travelling on the A34 southbound near Sutton Scotney at the time of the collision. 

'We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a Citroën Picasso which had broken down prior to the collision and who witnessed the subsequent collision involving a Mercedes Sprinter van.

'We are also appealing to any drivers who were travelling on the A34 southbound between Upper Bullington and Worthy Down between 3pm and 3.20pm and who may have dash-cam footage.

'Any footage showing the vehicle before the collision occurred could be just as important as footage of the collision itself.

'If you have any information, dash-cam footage, mobile phone footage, or any other digital media that may assist our investigation, please contact police as soon as possible. Anyone with dash-cam footage or other digital media is asked to retain the original recording and inform investigators as soon as possible.'