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Sisters orphaned after parents are killed in head-on crash with 'drug' driver

(Picture: Police)
The Batemans were involved in a crash on the A142 in Cambridgeshire on Thursday (Picture: Police)

Two sisters have lost both their parents after they were killed in head-on crash with a suspected drug driver.

Robert Bateman, 36, his wife Paula, 35, and their two children 10-year-old Lexi and 18-month-old Elizabeth were all inside the car when it crashed on the A142 in Cambridgeshire on Thursday.

Mr Bateman was driving their Ford Focus when it collided with an Iveco Daily van between Chatteris and Mepal at just after 8pm. Mrs Bateman was in the backseat.

Lexi was seriously hurt but did not suffer life-threatening injuries. Elizabeth was not seriously injured.

Both of them have been released from hospital.

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(Picture: Police)
Robert Bateman, 36, his wife Paula, 35, were killed in the crash (Picture: Police)

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The van driver, 32, from Lincoln, who suffered minor injuries, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.

The family of the Batemans have paid tribute to them in a statement issued through police.

They said: 'We are utterly devastated by this news. Bob and Paula were much-loved friends to many and will be missed by everyone who knew them.

'They were also utterly devoted parents.

'Bob as a much-loved son and father, while Paula was a much-loved daughter, sister and mother.'

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The suspect remains in custody.

Anyone who saw the collision or the vehicles in the lead up to it, or has dash cam footage, is urged to contact police via web chat or by calling 101, quoting incident number 478 of 3 September.