New York driver charged over British deaths

Updated 14.22 Fri Feb 15 2008
Keywords: andrew hardie, jacklyn timmons, scarlett auvryn, united states, tourists, world, new york

The driver of a lorry that ran over and killed two British tourists in New York has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

Refuse collector Scarlett Auvryn, 52, lost control of his vehicle near Madison Square Garden and crashed into the pavement, killing Jacklyn Timmons and Andrew Hardie, both 47, who lived together in Somerset.

"The driver was in a seizure when I got to him and he had fuel pouring out of the fuel tank" - Ron Stall

It appears Auvryn had not taken some medication and had a fit at the wheel.

Witness Ron Stall said: "The truck lost control and it veered into the first set of buildings. It took out a couple of pedestrians.

"The driver was in a seizure when I got to him and he had fuel pouring out of the fuel tank, diesel fuel."

A 23-year-old man was also injured in the accident and his condition was described as serious by a local hospital.

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