A DARTFORD woman was today still fighting for life after a road accident in which her two sisters died.

Sheila Khan, 59, was a passenger in a Nissan Micra which was involved in a collision with an ambulance on the A25 at Westerham last Thursday.

The driver of the car, Mary Price, 71, and her other sister, Dorothy Sandwell, 67, another passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene. Mrs Price lived at Sundridge, near Sevenoaks, and Mrs Sandwell lived at Sevenoaks.

Mrs Khan was airlifted to Maidstone General Hospital where she remains in a stable but critical condition. The ambulance was responding to an emergency call to a child with a head injury when the crash happened. No patients were in the ambulance at the time of the crash.

Relatives said the two dead sisters, who were part of a four-generation Kent family, were "much-loved" and would be sadly missed.

A statement, issued by the families of the sisters, said: "Our aunt, Mrs Sheila Khan, is a careworker for elderly people living in the Dartford area. She is married with two children and two grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with them all at this most difficult time.

"Our grandmother, Mrs Ellen Frost, 91 of Sundridge, is, naturally, devastated at the loss of two of her five children and the condition of her youngest daughter."

In a statement issued through Kent Police, they said: "They were travelling back to their mother's house when the collision occurred. Typically, they were out together, enjoying each other's company as they so often did."

Dorothy Sandwell had worked at Sevenoaks Hospital for 34 years. Steve Ford, chief executive of South West Kent Primary Care Trust that manages the hospital said: "This tragic news has caused a great deal of shock among hospital staff.

"On behalf of the PCT I would wish to convey our deepest sympathy to the families of those involved in this tragic incident and our thoughts are especially with the family and friends of Dorothy.

"This incident will undoubtedly have had a great effect on our colleagues in Kent Ambulance Service and our thoughts are also with them."

"Kent Ambulance NHS Trust and Kent Police are carrying out a full investigation into this incident and for this reason we would not wish to make any further comment on this sad and tragic incident."