A pregnant woman was killed in a car crash as she travelled to hospital to deliver her baby.

Sarah Iler, 26, was driving with her husband when their car collided with a tanker truck in Missouri on Wednesday morning.

The mother-to-be died upon impact but paramedics continued to give her CPR to save her child.

She was taken to hospital where baby Maddyson was delivered by emergency C-section.

Maddyson was initially in a critical condition but she continues to make "steady improvements", her family said on a GoFundMe page.

She reportedly opened her eyes and grabbed a nurse's finger but doctors still fear she may have suffered brain damage after being deprived of oxygen.

Ms Iler's husband, Matt Rider, is recovering in hospital.

The family are now attempting to raise money to pay for Ms Iler's funeral and Maddyson's medical care.

"Sarah will be greatly missed by many," they said.

"Maddyson will have lots of stories and fun memories shared with her as she grows up."