Former All Black star Jerry Collins has died in a car accident in the South of France.

Former All Black Jerry Collins and his wife have died in a tragic car crash in France.

Collins and partner Alana Madill died instantly in the incident in the south of France and their three-month-old baby, Ayla, is in a critical condition after being airlifted to a hospital in Montpellier.

Collins' agent, Tim Castle, has been appointed as the family spokesperson.

1 of 5 JEAN-PIERRE AMARGER/ MIDI LIBRE The couple were killed in a car crash on a motorway in the south of France. 2 of 5 JEAN-PIERRE AMARGER/ MIDI LIBRE Jerry Collins and his partner, Alana Madill, died instantly after the incident in the south of France and their three-month-old baby, Ayla, is in a critical condition. 3 of 5 JEAN-PIERRE AMARGER/ MIDI LIBRE The road accident occurred at 4.30am local time on Friday on the A9 in the French region of Herault. 4 of 5 JEAN-PIERRE AMARGER/ MIDI LIBRE The wreckage was removed from the scene. 5 of 5 ALANA MADILL/ FACEBOOK An image on Alana Madill's Facebook page show her and Jerry Collins.

"It is a tragedy. Both Jerry and has partner have been killed. Their three-month-old baby is very badly injured," Castle said. "It is devastating news for his family and everybody. He was in the best space.

"The family and I are distraught at the death of a much-loved son, brother and friend, and his partner Alana, whom I got to know recently.

"I have been in touch with Jerry's father Frank and other members of his family who are in Samoa at the moment. It's obviously a terribly difficult time for them and together with New Zealand Rugby we are doing all we can to support them.

stuff.co.nz Jerry Collins' agent Tim Castle has spoken to media on behalf of the former All Blacks' family.

OBITUARY: Jerry Collins - the hair, the smile, the hits

"I have also been in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who are also doing everything they can to ensure that baby Ayla is getting all the care and support she needs. I am very grateful for their support. "The family would also like to thank everyone for their messages of support and have asked for privacy at this time."

The road accident occurred at 3.10am local time on the A9 in the French region of Herault.

1 of 14 NZPA Hurricane, All Black and Wellington player Jerry Collins announces his retirement from New Zealand rugby in 2008. 2 of 14 JOEL FORD/ GETTY IMAGES Members of the Hurricanes observed a minute's silence for Jerry Collins ahead of their match against the Highlanders at McLean Park, Napier, just hours after the news of his death broke. 3 of 14 NZPA Jerry Collins during Hurricanes training back in 2008. 4 of 14 NZPA All Blacks loose forward Jerry Collins carts the ball up during the 2007 quarterfinal against France. 5 of 14 NZPA All Blacks star Jerry Collins makes a break against Romania at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. 6 of 14 NZPA Jerry Collins, left, and Chris Masoe, right, share a joke with then All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen in 2007. 7 of 14 NZPA All Blacks forward Jerry Collins against Portugal at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. 8 of 14 NZPA Jerry Collins in action against Italy in 2007. 9 of 14 Getty Images All Black Jerry Collins signs an autograph before checking in at the airport to head to the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. 10 of 14 WD All Blacks loose forward Jerry Collins is tackled by Australia's Stirling Mortlock, in the first Bledisloe Cup test of 2006. 11 of 14 WD Wellington's Jerry Collins and Tana Umaga after their loss to Waikato, in the Air New Zealand Cup rugby final at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton in 2006. 12 of 14 NZPA Jerry Collins at Hurricanes training sports his trademark blonde hair style. 13 of 14 Peter Meecham/Fairfax NZ All Black coach Graham Henry has a quiet word to flanker Jerry Collins during team training in the leadup to the second test against France in Paris in 2006. 14 of 14 John Selkirk/Fairfax NZ Jerry Collins reacts after Wellington lost the Air New Zealand Cup final to Waikato in 2006.

According to a statement from French police, Collins' partner was driving the car and he was in the back seat. It's not yet known why she lost control of the vehicle but the car first drifted to the left side of the road, then hit the security railing and shifted to the right side before stopping sideways on the highway when it got hit by a tourist bus.

Local paper Midi Libre said the bus driver freed Collins' daughter from the wreckage by the time the emergency services arrived.

"The news has shocked us all and our thoughts are with Jerry and Alana's families at this terribly sad time. We offer our deepest condolences to them and will support them as they come to terms with this devastating news," New Zealand Rugby general manager rugby Neil Sorensen said.

ROSS SETFORD/NZPA Jerry Collins charges at the French defence during the All Blacks' quarterfinal loss at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Ahead of their game against the Hurricanes in Napier on Friday, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said: "It's really horrible, really sad I guess for me. He epitomises the word tough in the game of rugby. I just really feel for his family right now."

Former All Blacks and Samoan midfielder Alama Ieremia, a close friend of Collins, was also distraught.

"It's very, very said. I'm saddened because I knew him when he was a young college kid that I picked for the Wellington Samoan sevens team. He was so young but had the heart of a Lion," Ieremia told Stuff. "I knew he was going to be an All Black and he was only in fifth form. I'm going to miss my boy."

Former Hurricanes and Wellington Lions physiotherapist Glenn Muirhead was gutted to hear of the 48-test All Black's death and gave a heartfelt tribute.

"It is with horror that I read that Jerry Collins has died tragically in France," Muirhead said." I spent many hours one-on-one with Jerry during his playing career with Wellington and the Hurricanes. Everybody knew of his bruising style of play, but not everybody knew JC.

"I first met him as a very shy 16-year-old being ushered into my clinic by a manager who told me he would be the next All Black out of Wellington. The severity of his injury even back then meant I had my doubts. Oh how wrong I was. Over the next 15 years he set the benchmark for 'putting his body on the line'. He was hard, very hard. But he was also a very intelligent man. Streetwise, yes, but also with wisdom that all to rarely he would choose to impart on those around him. He had a fantastic sense of humour but he also had demons that he carried with him every day that will now go to the grave with him. There are so many good stories about Jerry that the general public will never truly know the real man he was."

Collins signed a deal with second division French club Narbonne in January having not played rugby since finishing up with Japanese club Yamaha two years ago. In the years in between he worked in the security industry in Canada.

Narbonne president, Anthony Hill, lunched with Collins and Madill in a local restaurant on Thursday. Hill, an Australian, said Collins single-handedly turned around the Pro D2 club's season to avoid relegation.

"He killed it, he saved the season really, and I say that without exaggeration," Hill said from France.

"He scored a try to get us a bonus-point win at one point and scored two tries in a big derby with Perpignan. He was instrumental in changing the club's future. It's an absolute tragedy."

Collins captained the All Blacks in three tests against Argentina in 2006 and both Portugal and Romania in 2007.

He also played eight seasons with the Hurricanes and amassed 47 provincial caps for Wellington dating back to 1999.

The Hurricanes and Wellington Saints basketball team held moments of silence on Friday night to honour Collins.

Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni said; "We are shocked and saddened to hear the news of Jerry and his wife Alana passing. Obviously Jerry was a special part of both the Hurricanes and Wellington Lions over the years. He was an extraordinary leader and player, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time.

"Many of the team here in Napier tonight have strong connections with Jerry and his family, and will certainly do their best to go out there tonight and honour the man who did so much for this club over the years."

PROFILE

Full name: Jerry Collins

Born: November, 4 1980 in Apia, Samoa (aged 34)

School: St Patrick's College, Wellington

All Black debut: Saturday, June 23 2001 vs Argentina at Christchurch (aged 20 years, 231 days)

Last All Black test: Saturday, October 6 2007 vs France at Cardiff (aged 26 years, 336 days)

All Black tests: 48 (including three as captain)

All Black number: 1002

Caps:

Wellington: 47 (1999- 2007)

Hurricanes: 85 (from 2001-2008)

Toulon (France): 22 (2008-09)

Ospreys (Wales): 56 (2009-2011)

Yamaha Jubilo (Japan): 2011-2013

Narbonne (France): 2015-

- additional reporting from Cécile Meier