A grandma was killed in a car crash on her way to identify her son’s body six hours after he died in an accident – leaving a family “ripped apart” by the shocking double tragedy.
Carol Tinsley, a 70-year-old grandmother of six, died in the accident in Chester, England, on July 10, Cheshire Constabulary said, and she was killed just 30 minutes from the hospital where her late son Andrew, 46, was resting.
Andrew Tinsley, a dad of three, died earlier in the day from suspected cold water shock after jumping from a bridge and into a river at a tourist hotspot in Llangollen, North Wales, the Liverpool Echo reported.
Carol was heading to the hospital in Wrexham with Andrew’s ex-partner and his three kids — ages 17, 20 and 21– when their Kia crashed with a gray Cupra.
Carol was pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were injured, police said. The other driver wasn’t injured and the crash is being investigated.
Carol’s granddaughter Lisa, 42, said she was on the phone with one of the passengers in the back when the crash happened.
“It was just a scream and a rumble and crashing,” she told the Echo.
“We didn’t know whether the phone had broken up – obviously it fell into place afterwards.
“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.”
Lisa paid tribute to Liverpool-born sitcom fan Carol, who she described as “so witty and irreplaceable.”
“Andrew was another strong character,” she said speaking of her uncle, describing him as “more like a brother” given their similar ages.
“He was very athletic, very sporty, very outgoing, and he was an amazing person,” she said.
Andrew’s family suspect he died from cold water shock to the heart — with an investigation into his death already underway.
