  We perform N-body simulations of young triple systems consisting of two
low-mass companions orbiting around a significantly more massive primary. We
find that, when the orbits of the companions are coplanar and not too widely
separated, the chance of a collision between the two companions can be as high
as 20 per cent. Collisions between one of the companions (always the less
massive) and the primary can also occur in systems with unequal-mass
companions. The chance of collisions is a few per cent in systems with more
realistic initial conditions, such as with slightly non-coplanar orbits and
unequal-mass companions. If the companions start widely separated then
collision are very rare except in some cases when the total mass of the
companions is large. We suggest that collisions between members of young
multiple systems may explain some unusual young multiple systems such as
apparently non-coeval companions.
