Three teenagers die after car enters river
Three teenagers have died after their car entered the River Wear in Sunderland. Emergency services, including the RNLI and fire rescue, recovered the bodies, and a 17-year-old survivor has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Why it matters
This is a significant local tragedy involving multiple fatalities that has prompted an ongoing police investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
Image caption, Three teenagers have died after a car went into the River Wear
Three teenagers have died after a car entered a river.
Northumbria Police said just before 13:30 BST a black Audi A3 came off the road at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge, in Sunderland, and entered the water.
Four people were in the car at the time and a 17-year-old boy managed to reach safety. He is currently in hospital with non-serious injuries, and has subsequently been arrested in connection with the incident, the force said.
The bodies of two teenage boys and a teenage girl have been recovered from the water.
No other vehicles are believed to have been involved.
Ch Supt Scott Cowie, area commander for Sunderland, said it was "a truly tragic incident".
"Our thoughts are with their families, friends and all those impacted by what has happened," he said.
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