Three teenagers die after car enters River Wear in Sunderland
Northumbria Police said the investigation was at an early stage and asked members of the public to continue avoiding the area around Wearmouth Bridge.
Three teenagers have died on 30 September after a car entered the River Wear in Sunderland, Northumbria Police said.
The force said a black Audi A3 came off the road at Panns Bank, near Wearmouth Bridge, and entered the water.
Four people were in the car at the time. A 17-year-old boy reached safety and was taken to hospital with non-serious injuries; the teenager has since 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, called it “a truly tragic incident”: “Our thoughts are with their families, friends and all those impacted by what has happened.” Cowie said the investigation was at an early stage and Northumbria Police was working to establish the circumstances.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, the North East Ambulance Service and RNLI teams attended the scene to help with rescue efforts. Members of the public have been asked to continue to avoid the area.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said updates on the incident had been requested from the incident commander. Labour MP for Sunderland Central Lewis Atkinson said on X: “My thoughts are with everyone involved and their families, and with the emergency services responding to the scene.”
Sunderland AFC posted on social media: “At a deeply difficult time for our city, our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have lost their lives, and everyone affected by this tragedy. We also pay tribute to the emergency services and all those who have responded at the scene.”