Bedside vigil for holiday crash girl

A British mother was today keeping a bedside vigil by her critically ill daughter after half her family were killed in a road crash while on holiday in Florida.

Denise Cole, 42, lost her accountant husband Simeon, 41, her sister Dawn Babson and her brother-in-law Charles Babson on a trip to a shop for food.

Her daughter Phoebe, nine, is fighting for her life in hospital after Mr Babson apparently got lost and pulled out in front of an 18-wheel fuel tanker as he tried to perform a U-turn on the highway.

Mrs Cole's younger daughter Faith, five, was also seriously injured along with the Babsons' seven-year-old son Toni. The Babsons' elder son, Robert, nine, suffered a broken arm and shock.

The crash happened within hours of the group arriving at their timeshare holiday home near Davenport, Florida, in the early hours of Saturday. Mrs Cole, a solicitor, stayed with her sixmonthold daughter Chloe while City IT expert Mr Babson, 40, took the rest of the party to find a 24-hour shop in their rented Dodge people carrier.

Police found a map and directions to the shop on the lap of conveyancing solicitor Mrs Babson, also 40, and have concluded they had missed a turning and were trying to turn around when the lorry hit them. Mr Babson may have looked the wrong way to check for traffic. State trooper Larry Coggins said: "It seems Mr Babson was lost and drove in front of a trailer truck as he tried to cross the highway. Mr and Mrs Babson died at the scene and Mr Cole died later with his wife at his bedside."

Mrs Cole is said to be "struggling to cope" as she watches over Phoebe and visits another ward to check on Faith who is off the critical list. Her two orphaned nephews are also being treated at the Arnold Palmer Hospital. Several relatives are flying out to the US.

Neighbours of the Babsons in Mitcham, Surrey, spoke of their shock. Emeka Maddy, a 20-year-old bio-medical student who looked after one of the children, said: "They used to help me with my IT work. They were really nice."

At the Coles' home in Dagenham, their Latvian au pair Anna Strelkova, 20, said the family had been due home on New Year's Day. "They were really excited about going on their holidays, especially the children. It is so sad," she said.

The tanker driver was unhurt and is not expected to face charges.