Tributes flow for former All Black

Former All Black Jerry Collins and his wife who were killed in a car accident on Friday.

Tributes are flowing on social media for former All Black Jerry Collins and his wife who were killed in a car accident in France on Friday.

His baby daughter is in hospital in a critical condition.

The All Blacks have tweeted, "we are shocked and saddened by reports about the accident involving Jerry".

All Black Cory Jane has paid his tribute to his former teammate. "Such sad news about Jerry, his wife and baby. RIP Hitman..."

French paper Midi Libre reported the crash happened a little after 4:30am French time in the department of Herault along the highway near Beziers on the way to the city of Montpellier.

Collins had been in Canet-en-Roussillon attending a testimonial banquet for Samoan rugby player Henry Tuilagi who plays for Perpignan. He had been driving home along the A9 motorway in direction of Beziers. Emergency workers said Collins stopped his car by the side of the road, they think for "technical reasons".

Collins was then attempting to pull back into the traffic when he was hit by a bus with 21 people on board. Collins' car was apparently thrown about 10m and he and his wife were killed instantly. When the emergency services first arrived, the two drivers of the bus had already taken the baby girl out of the remains of her parents' vehicle. They handed her over to the firefighters who took her to hospital. The passengers on the bus are being given counselling. The drivers of the bus are reported to be in shock and have been taken to hospital in Beziers to be checked over.