Three teenagers killed after a car plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland have been named as Jackson Duke, 17, Luke Etheridge, 16, and Zara Shaw, 16.
The black Audi A3 broke through a barrier at Panns Bank, near Wearmouth Bridge, at about 1.30pm on Tuesday. Four teenagers were believed to have been inside the vehicle, with a 17-year-old passenger escaping from the water.
The surviving teenager has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Police said no other vehicle was believed to have been involved.
Chief Superintendent Scott Cowie, the area commander for Sunderland, said the families of the three victims had endured “unimaginable agony and heartbreak”.
“All three had their whole futures ahead of them and will be hugely missed,” he said. “I know the wider community will want to join me in offering their families our heartfelt condolences at this devastating time.”
Emergency services cordoned off a car park beside the river as police, firefighters and paramedics responded. Ambulances, police cars and a fire engine were seen along the riverbank, while two rescue boats were deployed in the water.
The Coastguard and RNLI used poles to search the river, with a helicopter also involved in the operation. Dozens of onlookers gathered on both sides of the waterway as the rescue effort continued.
The damaged car was lifted from the River Wear by a crane on Wednesday, about 24 hours after the crash. Its front end was severely damaged and the bonnet appeared to be missing.
A local resident said a neighbour had called the emergency services after witnessing the incident from a window. The man, who did not wish to be named, said: “There were loads of ambulances here. We had helicopters here at one point.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen anything like this around here. I’ve lived here for three years, this is sad to see.”
A 17-year-old girl who said she witnessed the crash also contacted the emergency services. She said the car had initially parked in a bay in front of the barriers before the driver and a passenger got out and spoke briefly.
She said: “All of a sudden, the car just flew through the barrier. It was as if the driver had tried to reverse and put the car in first gear by accident.”
The girl said the surviving passenger managed to swim to a ladder and climb out, while an onlooker ran to the water with a life ring. She also rejected claims circulating on social media that the teenagers had been performing “donuts”, saying the skid marks at the scene were from other people.
Chief Supt Cowie said the investigation into how the car entered the water remained ongoing and urged people not to speculate.
“We would continue to ask members of the public not to speculate about the incident both on social media and in the community,” he said. “In doing so, please be mindful of the potential impact such commentary could have on the families of those involved in this incident.”
He added that police would support the families and asked for their privacy to be respected, recognising the effect the tragedy had had on Sunderland and beyond.
Sunderland Football Club said its thoughts were with the families and friends of those who had died, as well as everyone affected by the incident. The club also paid tribute to the emergency services and others who responded at the scene.
Sunderland College said the three teenagers were students at its Bede Campus. In a statement, it described their deaths as “a heartbreaking loss for our college community, and the wider city of Sunderland”.
The college said support was available to students and staff affected by the tragedy, and asked for the privacy of the families to be respected.
