Three teenagers die after Audi enters River Wear in Sunderland

• Three teenagers—two boys and a girl—were recovered from the River Wear on Tuesday evening.
• The black Audi A3 entered the river at Panns Bank, near Wearmouth Bridge, at about 1.30pm.
• A 17-year-old boy reached safety, was taken to hospital with non-serious injuries and was arrested in connection with the incident.
• Northumbria Police appealed for information, including CCTV and dashcam footage, to help establish what happened.

Northumbria Police said it received reports shortly before 1.30pm on Tuesday, 29 September, that the car had come off the road at Panns Bank and entered the river. The North East Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 1.23pm. Police, ambulance crews, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Coastguard and fire and rescue teams joined the search. ^{1 2 3}

Four people were understood to have been in the car. The surviving boy reached safety and was taken to hospital. Police said the bodies of the other three occupants—two teenage boys and a teenage girl—were recovered from the water that evening. Their next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers. ^{1 2}

The 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident and was reported to be in police custody. Police have not established publicly what role he had in the car; his arrest does not establish that he was driving or that he was responsible for the crash. Reports published by Wednesday morning gave no charging decision. ^{1 2}

Chief Superintendent Scott Cowie, Sunderland’s area commander, said the investigation was at a very early stage. Police said no other vehicles were believed to have been involved, while asking people not to speculate about the incident. They appealed for witnesses and for anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward. ^{1 2}

Footnotes

1. ITV News Tyne Tees, “Three teenagers die after car goes into River Wear in Sunderland”. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

2. The Standard, “Police investigate after three teenagers killed when Audi A3 entered River Wear” (Press Association). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. The Independent, “Car plunges into River Wear sparking major rescue operation”. ↩