The goalkeeper for Plymouth Argyle football club, Luke McCormick, has been charged after two brothers died in a car crash on the M6 in Staffordshire.

Arron and Ben Peak, aged 10 and eight respectively, died when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a Range Rover on Saturday. Their father, Philip Peak, 37, who was driving, was taking them for a day out at Silverstone racing circuit in Northamptonshire.

Last night, Mr Peak was in a serious but stable condition in hospital, with fractures to his neck and back, broken ribs, bruising and swelling to his lungs.

Mr McCormick – a former England youth international twice voted Argyle's young player of the season – has been charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, with having excess alcohol in his blood and driving with no insurance.

At a press conference in Birmingham, the boys' mother, Amanda Peak, was too distressed to speak. A statement was read out on behalf of her and her husband. It said: "Both Phil and I are devastated at the sudden and tragic death of our two beautiful boys, Arron and Ben.

"Arron was my eldest son, loved life and especially football at which he excelled. Ben was a happy, loving son and brother and no parents should ever have to go through the nightmare that we have gone through.

"Nothing will ever compensate us for the loss we are feeling. Both the boys were excited to be going to Silverstone for a fun day out with friends.

"Philip has not only had to cope with the death of his two sons but has also had to cope with serious injuries he has sustained and remains in hospital."

They appealed to be left alone to come to terms with the "life-changing event that has devastated our lives".

Mrs Peak, 30, who was accompanied by the boy's grandmother Sandra, said it had fallen to her to inform her husband of the death of their two sons.

Mr Peak, from Partington, Manchester, was driving a Toyota Previa at the time of the crash between junctions 15 and 16 of the southbound M6 near Keele services at about 5.45am.

The senior investigating officer, Paul Bennett, of the Central Motorway Police Group, said: "It is devastating. Any incident involving children is obviously tragic. My heart goes out to Amanda and Phil; I don't know how they are coping."

Three other people in the vehicle were all released from hospital on Saturday and returned home.

Mr McCormick, 24, from Coventry, once helped Devon and Cornwall Police with a road-safety campaign highlighting the dangers of talking on a mobile phone while at the wheel.

In the campaign he tried and repeatedly failed to save penalties while chatting on his phone to show how easy it is to be distracted.

Plymouth Argyle FC said it wanted to send its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the two boys who lost their lives. "They are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time," a statement from the club read.

Mr McCormick is due to appear before Fenton magistrates' court in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, at 10am this morning.