Drink-drive quiz for soccer star in motorway crash that killed two brothers aged eight and ten

McCormick was returning from a former team-mate's wedding in his black Range Rover when it was involved in a collision with a Toyota Previa people carrier, which was sent plunging down an embankment and into trees.

An eight-year-old boy and his brother, ten, were killed in the crash while their 37-year-old father was in a serious condition in hospital following the incident, which happened on the M6 near Keele Services, Staffordshire, shortly before 6am.

Arrested: Luke McCormick, who plays for Plymouth Argyle, was driving home from a former team-mate's wedding when the crash happened

Black tyre marks from the centre of the motorway and deep ruts in the grass verge showed where the vehicle had skidded off the road.

The other passengers in the people carrier - a 49-year-old man and his two sons, aged eight and 15 - were treated for minor injuries. It is understood the group was travelling from the Manchester area to the Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire for a family day out watching motorsport.

The dead boys will not be named until Monday so their schoolmates can be told, a police source said.

McCormick, 24, a former England youth international, is understood to have been returning from the wedding celebrations of former team-mate David Norris.

The footballer, who escaped unhurt, was arrested at the scene on the M6.

A Staffordshire Police spokesman said an accident investigation team had been brought in to establish the cause of the crash.

Crash scene: Skid marks and warning tape mark the spot on the M6 where two boys aged eight and 10 were killed

He said: 'The Toyota left the carriageway and went down a small embankment, colliding with a number of trees. The 37-year-old driver was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, where he is undergoing treatment and is in a serious condition.

'Two boys, aged eight and ten, died as a result of the collision. The other passengers, a man and two children, were also taken to the same hospital with minor injuries.

'A 24-year-old man who was driving the Range Rover was uninjured and has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.' He was also being held on suspicion of drink-driving, the spokesman added.

Police appealed for anyone who saw the cars just before the crash to contact them on 0121 626 1831.

Location: The crash happened on the southbound lane near Keele services on the M6 motorway

Coventry-born McCormick -nicknamed 'Super Luke' - is rated as one of the Championship's top goalkeepers and is described on the club's website as 'an extremely agile and confident young goalkeeper'.

He is Plymouth Argyle's first-choice keeper and has spent most of his professional career at the club. He rose through the club's youth ranks, and has twice been voted the club's Young Player of the Year.

Last night, a Plymouth Argyle spokesman said: 'The club is aware of an incident involving one of our players on the M6. As the incident is subject to police enquiries, the club feels it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this stage.'