Britain · updated 50m ago · 2 min read
Northumbria Police Name Jackson Duke, Luke Etheridge, and Zara Shaw After Car Plunges Into River Wear
A black Audi A3 left Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge and entered the River Wear. Three teenagers died; a 17-year-old survivor was arrested.
Whether the arrested boy remains in police custody.
9 of 11 outlets skipped it: victims named and include college/student details.
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BBC
“He is currently in hospital with non-serious injuries, and has subsequently been arrested in connection with the incident, the force said.”Read the original ↗
Sky News
“He is in hospital with non-serious injuries, and remains in police custody.”Read the original ↗
Sky specifies custody; BBC omits that detail.
River Wear crash
Northumbria Police named Jackson Duke, 17, Luke Etheridge, 16, and Zara Shaw, 16, after a black Audi A3 came off the road at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland and plunged into the River Wear just before 13:30 BST on Tuesday. Northumbria Police said there were four people inside the car at the time, and a 17-year-old boy who managed to reach safety had been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Sunderland College said the deaths were a heartbreaking loss for its college community and the wider city of Sunderland, after emergency services including Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, the North East Ambulance Service and RNLI assisted with the rescue efforts.
Northumbria Police said the car was recovered from the water earlier on Wednesday and no other vehicles are believed to have been involved. Ch Supt Scott Cowie, area commander for Sunderland, said: "The last 24 hours have brought unimaginable agony and heartbreak for the loved ones of Luke, Jackson and Zara."
Investigation and arrest
Northumbria Police said the police received reports at around 1.30pm on Tuesday that the vehicle was coming off the road in the area, and the crash survivor suffered what were described as "non-serious" injuries. Chronicle Live said the crash survivor was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, while police said investigations to establish who was driving the car remain ongoing. Ch Supt Scott Cowie told the public that the investigation into the circumstances leading to the car entering the water remains ongoing, and he asked members of the public not to speculate about the incident both on social media and in the community.
Northumbria Police asked anyone with information, especially dashcam footage or CCTV, to contact the force online using reference number NP-20260929-0589. Ch Supt Scott Cowie also said: "We would continue to ask members of the public not to speculate about the incident both on social media and in the community."
Community response
Sunderland College released a statement saying it was deeply saddened to hear three students from its Bede Campus tragically lost their lives yesterday afternoon, and it described the loss as heart-breaking for the college community and the wider city of Sunderland. The college statement said everyone at Sunderland College extended heartfelt thoughts and deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Luke, Jackson and Zara. Lewis Atkinson, Labour MP for Sunderland Central, said on X that his thoughts were with everyone involved and their families, and with the emergency services responding to the scene.
Kim McGuinness, mayor for the North East, said she was aware of the incident and asked the incident commander to keep her updated as rescue teams worked at the scene. Lewis Atkinson said: "My thoughts are with everyone involved and their families, and with the emergency services responding to the scene."