Tributes have been paid to two British women who died while travelling through Romania on a dog rescue mission. Their minibus was involved in a devastating collision with two lorries and a van.
Allison Condon, 61, and Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, 41, were killed at the crash scene, along with eight dogs.
Friends and colleagues remembered the pair as “two rare diamonds”.
The women had been collecting abandoned dogs in Caraș-Severin, western Romania, near the Serbian border, on behalf of UK-based animal welfare charity Homeward Bound.
Ms Condon, who was from Northamptonshire, and Ms Harvey-Purkiss, from Essex, were pronounced dead at the scene after their minibus collided with two HGVs and a van.
A 60-year-old man was also reportedly injured in the crash.
The collision happened at about 11am on Thursday along the DN6 national road, a major route comparable to an A-road in the UK.
According to local media reports citing police sources, the minibus was carrying ten dogs when it crossed onto the opposite side of the road.
Charity worker Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, 41, was killed in the Romanian crash alongside her colleague Allison Condon, 61, and several dogs.
Romanian firefighters work at the scene of the collision to remove the windscreen from one of the HGVs involved.
The minibus then struck an HGV head-on. The impact caused that lorry to hit a second truck, leaving the smaller vehicle trapped between the two heavy goods vehicles.
The driver of the first HGV was injured, while a van travelling behind the second lorry was also caught up in the crash.
Reports suggest Ms Condon was driving the UK-registered minibus, with Ms Harvey-Purkiss seated beside her.
Romanian police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief for the two women, who were carrying out the rescue work as part of their charity duties.
The dogs were understood to have been transported for Homeward Bound, a UK organisation dedicated to animal rescue.
The charity says it offers “care, protection, treatment and security” to animals that have been lost, found or stolen and require help.
Teresa Shears, speaking on behalf of Homeward Bound, said the organisation was “grief stricken” following the deaths of the two volunteers.
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The two British women were pronounced dead at the scene after their minibus reportedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road and became crushed between two lorries.
A Homeward Bound spokesman described the pair as “two rare diamonds”.
‘The tragedy of losing the ladies and our furry family has ripped our hearts out. This terrible accident has hurt us beyond words.
‘I have hundreds upon hundreds of messages I am trying to keep up with. But I am struggling to get through so many.
‘For now please can I ask you all to be patient with updates and replies. I hope you can understand?
‘It’s going to take time to come to terms with the loss of life.
‘I’m so terribly sorry for the family and friends of the two rare diamonds we have lost but they want us to keep going. We will with your support continue.’
Ms Condon’s daughter Sammie said in a separate post: ‘I can’t believe I am writing this and I am devastated to have to confirm that my mum, passed away yesterday.
‘She and another amazing volunteer, Rachael, were transporting rescue dogs across Europe to a brand-new life when a horrific accident occurred in Romania and both incredible ladies lost their lives, as did most of the dogs in the van.
‘This wasn’t supposed to happen…I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact it did and we still don’t know why or how just yet.
‘This was supposed to be a beautiful adventure that brought dogs to the life they dreamed of.’
She added: ‘Mum was loved far more than she knew, I only hope she can now see how many people did care about her.’
Meanwhile Ms Harvey-Purkiss’s father Paul wrote in another online post: ‘I hope no one is more or again upset by this photo of my daughter just before the crash.’
He added: ‘My beautiful daughter Rachael RIP.’
It is understood that the Foreign Office has not been approached for assistance but that its staff ‘stand ready to support British nationals abroad 24/7’.
The FCDO has been approached for further comment.
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