The grandchildren and daughter-in-law of the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, were taken to hospital after a car accident hours before United's Champions League win over Arsenal last night.

Nadine Ferguson, 30 – separated from Ferguson's son Darren – was airlifted to hospital in Manchester following the crash, which happened near her home in Cheshire.

The couple's 10-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, named in reports as Charlie and Grace Ferguson, were taken by ambulance to hospital in Crewe.

Ferguson later led his team to a 3-1 victory at the Emirates stadium, in North London, as they sealed their place in the Champions League final with a 4-1 aggregate win.

"Sir Alex was beside himself with worry when he heard about the crash and was desperate for news," a Manchester United Source told the Sun.

"His first thought was to go straight to the hospital, but the semi-final was just hours away and he had a responsibility to the club as well.

"It's a terrible situation for the whole family, and could not have come at a worse time."

Police did not specify the injuries suffered in the crash, but confirmed that the 10-year-old boy had had been transferred to the Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool.

"The young boy was taken to Alder Hey, where he is in a very serious but stable condition," a spokeswoman for Cheshire police said.

"The six-year-old girl was treated for minor injuries at Leighton hospital [in Crewe].

"Their mother was taken to Wythenshawe hospital [in Manchester], where her condition is serious."

Nadine Ferguson's black Vauxhall Corsa collided with a Ford Fiesta in Lower Withington, Macclesfield, at around 8.25am.

She separated from 37-year-old Darren, who manages Peterborough United, in 2006 after four years of marriage.