A close-knit family was 'ripped apart within six hours' after a grandmother was killed in a car crash while travelling to identify the body of her son.
Andrew Tinsley, 46, a father of three, died in what was described as 'a tragic accident' in the River Dee in Llangollen, North Wales, on July 10. His mother Carol Tinsley, 70, along with his ex-partner and children aged 21, 20 and 17, travelled from West Derby to Wrexham Maelor Hospital to identify his body.
As they passed through Chester, just 30 minutes from their destination, the car they were travelling in was involved in a major crash. Carol was pronounced dead at the scene.
Phone call captures moment of crash
Carol's granddaughter and Andrew's niece, Lisa, 42, was on the phone to one of her cousins at the time of the collision, which took place at 11.30pm on Parkgate Road at the junction with Welsh Road.
She said: 'I don't know what happened. All I know is she got in the car and set off, and the next thing we hear is there's been a tragic car accident.'
'I was on the phone to one of the kids, who was sitting in the back seat as the crash happened. It was just a scream and a rumble and crashing. We didn't know whether the phone had broken up - obviously it fell into place afterwards.'
'The phone cut off and we were trying to ring and ring and ring and ring. Eventually we got through to my cousin and she was in the ambulance, and the paramedic took the phone off her and told me what had happened.'
'It was unreal. It was like living in a movie. It was so shocking. I don't think our lives are every going to be the same again. Within six hours, our family has been ripped apart.'
Details of the incidents
North Wales Police said they were called to a bridge on Castle Street, Llangollen, at 8.16pm on Friday, July 10, following a report from witnesses. Following searches in the River Dee, Andrew was found and taken to hospital in Wrexham, where he died.
Lisa said her uncle, who was 'more like a brother' due to their close ages, was a regular visitor to Llangollen and enjoyed swimming in the river. She said: 'We don't really know what's happened yet. We're still waiting for that information. But as far as we know, he had cold water shock to the heart. They tried to start his heart again, but unfortunately he didn't make it.'
After Andrew's sudden death, his mother Carol was called to identify his body and set off with his ex-partner, son and two daughters. At 11.33pm on the same day, Cheshire Police were called to reports of a serious crash between a grey Cupra Born and a black Kia Sportage on Parkgate Road at the junction with Welsh Road, Chester.
Carol, a passenger in the Kia, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Kia and two further passengers suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital. A fourth passenger suffered minor injuries. The driver of the Cupra was uninjured. No arrests have been made and enquiries remain ongoing.
Family tribute and fundraiser
Lisa said: 'We are just absolutely devastated and trying to process it all. We're just now coming to the realisation, coming to the funeral arrangements and trying to get things sorted.'
'Carol was very outgoing, very social. She was very much a people person. She loved the Royal Family, loved sitcoms, and she was so witty. She's irreplaceable.'
'Andrew was another strong character. He was very athletic, very sporty, very outgoing, and he was an amazing person.'
Lisa's daughter Derrie has set up an online fundraiser in the hope of raising £8,000 for a double funeral for Carol and Andrew. Derrie said: 'This has broken our family as my three cousins lived with our nan from very young, she was their guardian and now they lost our nan and their dad in the same day, so they have been left with nothing.'
Lisa added: 'She wants to take the stress away from the children because a double funeral is going to cost a lot of money, as you can imagine. They're still recovering from their injuries on top of that.'
'It would mean that we would be able to grieve as a family without worrying and stressing. Being able to send them off with dignity and respect.'
'Right now, I think we're all just a bit lost. But all I keep saying is as long as we're here for each other as a family, then we'll be all right and the kids stay together.'
