Two British Women Killed in Romania Dog Rescue Mission Crash
Allison Condon, 61, and Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, 41, died along with eight dogs when their minibus collided with multiple vehicles.
Two British women died in a minibus crash while on a dog rescue mission in Romania. Allison Condon, 61, from Northamptonshire, and Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, 41, from Essex, were killed at the scene along with eight dogs.
The collision occurred around 11 a.m. on Thursday on the DN6 national road in Caraș-Severin, western Romania, near the Serbian border. Local police sources cited by media suggest the minibus, registered in the UK, veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided head-on with an HGV. The impact caused the minibus to become trapped between two large vehicles, a second HGV and a van that was also involved.
Ms. Condon was reportedly driving at the time of the incident, with Ms. Harvey-Purkiss in the passenger seat. A 60-year-old man was also injured in the crash, and the driver of the first HGV sustained injuries. The minibus was carrying ten dogs at the time of the accident.
The pair were collecting abandoned dogs for the UK-based charity Homeward Bound, which provides care and protection for animals in need. Tributes have poured in for the women, described by a charity spokesperson as 'two rare diamonds.'
Teresa Shears, a spokesperson for Homeward Bound, stated online, "As you can well imagine we are grief stricken at this time. The tragedy of losing the ladies and our furry family has ripped our hearts out. This terrible accident has hurt us beyond words."
Ms. Condon's daughter, Sammie, confirmed her mother's death, writing, "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."
Ms. Harvey-Purkiss's father, Paul, also posted a tribute: "My beautiful daughter Rachael RIP."
The Foreign Office has stated that it has not been approached for assistance but is ready to support British nationals abroad. Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.