- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Tributes have poured in for two British women who were killed on a dog rescue mission in Romania when their minibus collided with two lorries and a van.
asserted
minibus → see → lorries
Allison Condon, 61, and Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, 41, died at the scene along with eight dogs.
asserted
Condon → die → dogs
They have been described as 'two rare diamonds'.
asserted
They → describe → diamonds
The pair had been collecting abandoned dogs in Caraș-Severin, in western Romania on the border with Serbia, for UK-based charity Homeward Bound.
asserted
pair → collect → Bound
However Ms Condon, from Northamptonshire, and Ms Harvey-Purkiss from Essex, were pronounced dead at the scene of the horrific crash, which saw their minibus collide with two HGVs and a van.
asserted
minibus → pronounce → HGVs
A man aged 60 was also injured, it has been reported.
asserted
it → injure → ?
The collision occurred at around 11am on Thursday on the DN6 national road, which is the equivalent of an A-road in the UK.
asserted
which → occur → UK
Local media have cited police sources as saying that the pair's minibus was carrying ten dogs when it veered onto the wrong side of the road.
asserted
it → cite → road
Pictured: Charity worker Rachael Harvey-Purkiss, 41, who was killed in the crash in Romania alongside her colleague Allison Condon, 61, and a number of dogs
Pictured: Romanian fire crews at the scene of the collision working to remove the windscreen from one of the HGVs involved
It then crashed head-on into an HGV, which hit another truck and the minibus became trapped between the two large vehicles.
asserted
minibus → picture → vehicles
The driver of the first HGV was injured in the crash, while a van that was travelling behind the second was also involved in the collision.
asserted
that → injure → collision
It has been reported that Ms Condon was behind the wheel at the time of the incident while Ms Harvey-Purkiss was in a passenger seat of the UK-registered vehicle.
asserted
Purkiss → report → vehicle
Police are continuing to investigate the crash.
asserted
Police → continue → crash
Tributes have now poured in for the two women who were killed in the crash while carrying out charity work in Romania.
asserted
who → pour → Romania
It is understood the pair were transporting the dogs for UK organisation Homeward Bound.
asserted
pair → understand → organisation
The charity provides 'care, protection, treatment and security for animals which are lost/found or stolen and are in need of care'.
asserted
which → provide → care
Teresa Shears, for Homeward Bound, said in an online tribute: 'As you can well imagine we are grief stricken at this time.
asserted
we → say → time
The two British women were declared dead at the scene of the collision, which is believed to have occurred after their minibus veered onto to the wrong side of the road before becoming crushed between to the two lorries
The pair including Rachel Harvey-Purkiss (pictured) were described by the charity Homeward Bound as 'two rare diamonds'
'
asserted
pair → declare → diamonds
The tragedy of losing the ladies and our furry family has ripped our hearts out.
asserted
tragedy → lose → hearts
This terrible accident has hurt us beyond words.
asserted
accident → hurt → words
I have hundreds upon hundreds of messages I am trying to keep up with.
asserted
I → have → messages
But I am struggling to get through so many.
asserted
I → struggle → many
'For now please can I ask you all to be patient with updates and replies.
asserted
I → ask → updates
I hope you can understand?
asserted
you → hope → ?
'It's going to take time to come to terms with the loss of life.
asserted
It → go → 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.
asserted
us → lose → diamonds
We will with your support continue.'
asserted
We → continue → support
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.
'
asserted
mum → say → this
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.
asserted
most → transport → van
'This wasn't supposed to happen…
asserted
This → suppose → ?
I'm still trying to come to terms with the fact it did and we still don't know why or how just yet.
asserted
we → try → fact
'This was supposed to be a beautiful adventure that brought dogs to the life they dreamed of.'
asserted
they → suppose → life
She added: 'Mum was loved far more than she knew, I only hope she can now see how many people did care about her.'
asserted
people → add → 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.'
asserted
one → write → 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'.
asserted
staff → add → nationals
The FCDO has been approached for further comment.
asserted
FCDO → approach → comment