THREE TEENAGERS KI//ED AFTER CAR PLUNGES INTO RIVER WEAR — FAMILIES LEFT HEARTBROKEN

Three teenagers have died after the car they were travelling in plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland, leaving families, friends and an entire college community devastated.

The victims have now been named as Jackson Duke, 17, Luke Etheridge, 16, and Zara Shaw, 16.

Jackson and Luke were from the Sunderland area, while Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring.

All three were students at Sunderland College’s Bede Campus. Their families are being supported by specialist officers.

THE CAR ENTERED THE RIVER

The tragedy happened shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, when members of the public reported seeing a black Audi A3 leave the road at Panns Bank, near Wearmouth Bridge, and enter the River Wear.

Four people were believed to have been inside the vehicle.

A 17-year-old boy managed to escape and reach safety. He suffered injuries described as non-serious and was initially taken to hospital.

The bodies of the three other occupants were later recovered from the water following a major emergency response.

Police said no other vehicles are currently believed to have been involved.

The black Audi was recovered from the river on Wednesday as investigators continued working to establish exactly what happened.

A 17-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN ARRESTED

The surviving 17-year-old has since been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in police custody.

However, Northumbria Police have stressed that enquiries are still ongoing to establish who was driving the Audi when it entered the river.

That means the arrest does not establish that the teenager was the driver, and no conclusion has been reached about how the crash happened.

Police have appealed for anyone with CCTV, dashcam footage or other information about the incident to come forward.

Officers have also asked members of the public not to speculate about the circumstances on social media, warning that such commentary could have a serious impact on the families involved.

‘ALL THREE HAD THEIR WHOLE FUTURES AHEAD OF THEM’

Chief Superintendent Scott Cowie, Sunderland’s area commander, said the previous 24 hours had brought “unimaginable agony and heartbreak” to the loved ones of Luke, Jackson and Zara.

He said all three teenagers “had their whole futures ahead of them” and would be hugely missed.

Police have also thanked emergency services and partner agencies involved in the search and recovery operation.

A COLLEGE COMMUNITY IN MOURNING

Sunderland College confirmed that the three teenagers were students at its Bede Campus.

The college described their deaths as a heartbreaking loss for the college community and the wider city of Sunderland, extending its condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.

Tributes have since begun appearing near the riverside, with friends and fellow students leaving flowers and messages in memory of the teenagers.

For the families of Jackson, Luke and Zara, the investigation will continue to seek answers about how the Audi came to leave the road and enter the River Wear.

For now, three young lives have been lost — and a community is mourning teenagers whose futures were only beginning.