Rugby star and wife die in fatal car crash

Former New Zealand All Black rugby star Jerry Collins and his wife have died in a fatal car crash in the early hours of Friday, June 5.

According to French newspaper Midi Libre.o, the  34-year-old was travelling with his wife Alana Madill and their two-month-old daughter Ayla in Herault, southern France, when the accident occurred.

Their new born baby who was in the car has been badly injured and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Collins have reportedly stopped his car after experiencing unknown technical problems when a bus crashed into it in the early hours of Friday, killing him and his partner.

The couple's two-month baby was saved by the driver who managed to remove her from the wreckage.

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

His agent Tim Castle has confirmed the dead of the former New Zealand Rugby team captain.

"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," Castle told Stuff.co.nz.

Police will question the bus driver and co-driver today, along with 20 passengers on-board, as an investigation into the fatal crash gets underway.

Jerry Collins made his professional debut for Wellington in 1998 before making his debut for New Zealand in a game against Argentina.

He was named captain for the All Blacks for the 2007 World Cup and retired from international rugby the following year.

He amassed 48 caps and five tries for the All Blacks.

He recently made a comeback to Rugby with French team, Narbonne before his passing.