[Loukas]

TWO British lovers were walking hand-in-hand when they were mown down and crushed by a runaway rubbish truck during a Valentine’s trip to New York.

Last night relatives of tragic mum-of-four Jackie Timmins told of her “incredible excitement” over the romantic Big Apple trip.



Jackie, 47, died with new partner Andrew Hardie as they strolled from a restaurant near Madison Square Garden.

Cops said Jackie was decapitated while Andrew was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The truck’s driver is said to have collapsed at the wheel after failing to take medication to combat seizures. He has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Canteen cook Jackie, who also had two grandsons, was killed with Andrew, 48, after the truck suddenly mounted the pavement.

Onlookers told how it swerved out of control and hit a lamp-post and street signs before careering into a delicatessen.

A passenger in the vehicle tried to regain control, but failed.

The passenger was uninjured but a third pedestrian, a 23-year-old local man, was badly hurt and had emergency surgery.

Harold Solomon, manager of the couple’s £100-a-night hotel, said: “It’s a horrible tragedy.”

British holidaymaker Sonia Jones, 23, said: “It was terrifying. We heard a huge bang and saw two people lying on the ground. They weren’t moving.”

Jackie divorced husband Robin a year ago and recently set up home in Yeovil, Somerset, with handyman Andrew, also divorced.

Robin, 48, a builder, said yesterday: “We’re all devastated.

“I hope this driver never forgets what he’s done, because we’ll never forget Jackie.”

Jackie’s sister Dawn Carver, 49, said: “I can’t believe she’s gone. She was incredibly excited about her trip to New York.”

Andrew and Jackie lived with her daughter Nikita, 12, and Andrew’s 18-year-old girl and boy of 15 from a previous marriage. Jackie had three grown-up sons.

DID you know the couple? Call our newsdesk on 020 7782 4104.

-A BRITISH tourist, 54, collapsed and died as she walked in searing temperatures through West Australia’s Kalbarri national park.


TheSun.co.uk