Two British women, aged 41 and 61, and eight dogs were killed in a four-car collision in Caraș-Severin county, western Romania, with paramedics pronouncing both women dead at the scene
Two British women have tragically lost their lives, along with eight dogs, in a horrific four-vehicle collision in Romania, prompting a close friend to pay a ‘heartbreaking’ tribute to the ‘fun-loving’ and ‘vibrant’ pair.
The deadly incident involved two lorries, a van, and the minibus in which the two victims were travelling.
The women, aged 41 and 61, were declared dead at the scene in Cara-Severin county, western Romania, by emergency medical personnel.
Allison Condon and Rachael Harvey-Purkiss’ close friend expressed her inability to ‘comprehend’ the loss of her ‘soul sisters’.
Claire Dalton shared on Facebook: “I’m heartbroken… but there are others feeling much worse than me. This breaks my heart more than anything.”
The women were travelling in a UK-registered minibus, which was also carrying 10 dogs, eight of whom sadly perished.
Their mission was to transport the animals to a new home in France.
The fatal incident took place on Thursday around 11am on the DN6 national road just outside Vlioara village.
Police investigations revealed that the UK-registered vehicle strayed onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with a Romanian-registered lorry, injuring its driver.
The lorry subsequently struck another HGV, also registered in Romania, sandwiching the minibus between them. A van travelling behind the second lorry was also caught up in the pile-up.
The women’s friend’s post went on: “I lost two amazing and beautiful people yesterday in a collision on a Romanian motorway and life will never be the same and I was lucky enough to call them good friends.
“They were on a rescue mission that was to move 10 of our rescues to safety in France. The most fun, bouncy, full of life, beautiful hearted people I have ever met and I loved them very much”.
Claire continued: “They truly were my soul sisters. They were the friends who were simply there – through the good days, the difficult days and all the moments when I wondered how I could possibly carry on.
“Alison and Rachel were making this incredible journey for one reason: because they cared. They wanted to save dogs and they wanted to make sure they were safe, loved and given the very best chance at a new life in France.
“And now I am grieving for my beautiful friends and for the precious dogs we have lost. I simply cannot comprehend what has happened.”
Following reports of a crash on the motorway, Allison’s daughter Sammie took to Facebook with growing alarm as her mum had stopped responding.
Claire expressed: “My heart breaks for Alison and Rachel’s families. I cannot begin to imagine the pain they are going through right now. Sammy has lost her mum, and there are families and people who loved Alison and Rachel whose lives have changed forever in the most unimaginable way.
“I am struggling beyond belief to even find the words to speak to anybody at the moment. There are so many thoughts and emotions going through my head that I don’t know where one ends and another begins. I feel completely overwhelmed by grief, disbelief and sadness.
“This was supposed to be a journey of hope. None of us could ever have imagined that it would end like this.”