A tight-knit family was 'ripped apart within six hours' after a grandmother died in a crash while travelling to identify the body of her son.
River accident and car crash
Father-of-three Andrew Tinsley, 46, died in what was described as 'a tragic accident' in the River Dee in Llangollen, Denbighshire, on July 10. His mother Carol Tinsley, 70, his former partner, and children aged 21, 20, and 17 made the journey from West Derby to identify his body at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
However, as they passed through Chester, just 30 minutes from their destination, the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a serious collision – killing the grandmother-of-six at the scene.
Family's devastation
Carol's granddaughter and Andrew's niece Lisa, 42, was speaking on the phone to one of her cousins at the moment of the crash, which occurred at 11.30pm in 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 they eventually got through to the cousin, who was in an ambulance. Lisa added: '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 in Castle Street, Llangollen, at 8.16pm on Friday, July 10, following a report from witnesses. After searches in the River Dee, a 46-year-old man, subsequently identified as Andrew, was recovered and transported to hospital in Wrexham where he died.
Lisa described her uncle, who was 'more like a brother' to her, as a regular visitor to Llangollen who loved 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.'
Following Andrew's death, his mother Carol set off with his ex-partner, son, and two daughters. At 11.33pm the same evening, Cheshire Police received reports of a serious collision between a grey Cupra Born and a black Kia Sportage in Parkgate Road. Carol, a passenger in the Kia, suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Kia and two other passengers suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital, while a fourth passenger sustained minor injuries. The driver of the Cupra was uninjured. No arrests have been made and investigations continue.
Fundraiser for double funeral
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.' She described Carol as 'very outgoing, very social' and 'irreplaceable', and Andrew as 'very athletic, very sporty, very outgoing, and an amazing person.'
Lisa's daughter Derrie has started an online fundraiser hoping to raise £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.'
