A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after an Audi A3 went into the River Wear in Sunderland. Two teenage boys and a teenage girl have died as a result this afternoon, Northumbria Police said.
Emergency response and search
A major emergency services operation was under way after the car entered the river. Rescue teams were searching the water near Wearmouth Bridge after the incident on Tuesday.
Police, ambulance crews, the RNLI and Coastguard were on the scene. The emergency services continued to search the river on Tuesday evening despite fog making visibility difficult on the water.
Search area and resources
The search centred on an area around Panns Bank, on the Wear's southern bank. The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) dispatched two fire engines and a fire boat to assist with the rescue operation.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson previously said: “Shortly before 1.30pm today, we received a report of a car entering the River Wear near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. Emergency services are currently at the scene. We would ask members of the public to avoid the area.”
Police statement
Chief Supt Scott Cowie, Area Commander for Sunderland, said: "This is a truly tragic incident where three young people have lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their families, friends and all those impacted by what has happened."
He added: "We will continue to support them in any way that we can and ask that their privacy is respected at this time. I want to thank all of our partners who supported the multi-agency search efforts."
"Our investigation is at a very early stage in establishing the circumstances surrounding what has happened. We would ask members of the public not to speculate about the incident both on social media and in the community. In doing so, please be mindful of the potential impact such commentary could have on the families of those involved in this incident."
