A pregnant woman and her unborn child have died following a car crash in East End.

Karen Edwards was thrown from the mangled wreckage during the smash and rushed to Cayman Islands Hospital.

She was pronounced dead on arrival and despite the best efforts of surgeons they were unable to save the child’s life.

Two other people in the vehicle at the time remain in a serious condition in hospital. A third has been released.

The driver of the car, a 24-year-old woman, has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and causing death by dangerous driving.

She is also in a serious condition in hospital and late yesterday afternoon was airlifted to Miami for further treatment.

It is understood Miss Edwards was in the full term of her pregnancy and was waiting to give birth any day.

She was also the mother of two other children, a boy and a girl who are believed to be both under the age of five.

Following the tragic death of their mother, they were both being comforted by close family members.

The accident happened just after 7pm on Sunday night. Police received a call that a car had crashed near Sea View Road.

It appears the car was heading towards Bodden Town when it collided with a tree.

When the emergency services arrived they discovered one of the people in the car had been taken to hospital by a passer-by.

During a search of the bush they found Miss Edwards, 25, lying near the wreckage face down and unresponsive.

Another woman was found outside the white SUV while the third was trapped in the wreckage and had to be cut free by firefighters.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said enquiries into the crash were ongoing.

She added: “The RCIPS extends condolences to the family of the deceased woman and have assigned a Family Liaison Officer.

“Anyone who has any information about the crash should call the RCIPS Traffic Management Unit at 946 6254 or any police station within the Cayman Islands.”

A 21-year-old who was in the crash has been discharged but a 25 year old remains in hospital.

Meanwhile in a separate incident a 22 year old man is in hospital in a serious condition after he was hit by a car. Police say his condition is serious but not life-threating.

Just after 7.30pm on Sunday the man was traveling in the back of an open truck along Linford Pierson Highway close to Randyke Gardens.

A spokeswoman for the RCIPS said: “It appears that the man had been sitting on the back of the open truck when the driver had pulled into the side of the road to allow an ambulance to pass.

“As the truck then moved back into the carriageway, he fell from the back of the vehicle, rolled across the road and was struck by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.”

Additional reporting Tricia Russell-Jones and Pauline McField.