Heracles Almelo footballer Rai Vloet has been arrested following a road crash in which a four-year-old boy died at the weekend.

The 26-year-old midfielder was questioned by police along with a 27-year-old man from Velthoven about the collision on the A4 near Hoofddorp at around 1.15am on Sunday.

Vloet and his companion were in a car that collided with another vehicle carrying a family of four from Zoetermeer. A four-year-old boy was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries.

Police said the two men had been released but remained suspects. Earlier reports said they were suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, though it is not known for sure who was driving.

Heracles’ technical director Tim Gilissen said the club was ‘deeply shocked’ by the news. ‘We are aware of the incident and our thoughts are with those who were most affected by it.’