BBC Breakfast viewers received heartbreaking news minutes into Wednesday's programme after three teenagers died in a car crash in Sunderland.
Presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay returned to screens for the September 30 episode, but the mood quickly turned emotional as Sally delivered the update. Two teenage boys and a teenage girl lost their lives after a black Audi A3 left the road at Panns Bank, close to Wearmouth Bridge, at around 1.30pm on Tuesday.
Arrest after escape from vehicle
A 17-year-old boy is understood to have escaped from the vehicle and was pulled from the water. He was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has since been arrested.
Northumbria Police said the car entered the River Wear as emergency services launched a major multi-agency response. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.
Police describe incident as 'truly tragic'
Chief Superintendent Scott Cowie, Area Commander for Sunderland, described the incident as "truly tragic" and said the thoughts of police were with the families and friends of those who died. He urged people not to speculate about what happened, particularly on social media, warning that comments could have a further impact on the families involved.
Cowie said police would continue to offer support while asking for the families' privacy to be respected. He thanked the emergency services and other agencies involved in the search, adding that the investigation was still in its early stages.
Emergency response and confirmation of deaths
The North East Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 1.23pm on Tuesday reporting that a car had entered the River Wear near Wearmouth Bridge. A large number of emergency crews were sent to the scene, including three ambulances, a clinical team leader, three officers, the full Hazardous Area Response Team and an air ambulance.
Paramedics worked alongside police, fire crews, the coastguard and the RNLI during the rescue operation. One person was taken to hospital by road for further treatment. The ambulance service confirmed that three teenagers died at the scene despite the efforts of the emergency services.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Sadly, despite the best efforts of all emergency services in attendance, three teenagers died at the scene. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragic event and thank everyone whose dedication, compassion and support helped those involved during such difficult circumstances."
The investigation into the circumstances of the collision is ongoing. BBC Breakfast airs every day from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
