THREE TEENAGERS KILLED AFTER CAR PLUNGES INTO RIVER WEAR AS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MOURN

Three teenagers have died after the car they were travelling in plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland, leaving their families, friends and the wider community in mourning.

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

Northumbria Police said the three were travelling in a black Audi A3 when it came off the road at Panns Bank, near Wearmouth Bridge, and entered the river shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29.

Emergency services launched a major operation after members of the public reported seeing the vehicle enter the water. The bodies of two teenage boys and a teenage girl were later recovered from the river.

Jackson and Luke were from the Sunderland area, while Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring. Police said specialist officers were supporting their next of kin.

THREE YOUNG LIVES LOST

Jackson, Luke and Zara were all young people with their futures ahead of them.

The three were students at Sunderland College’s Bede Campus, according to reports, and their deaths have deeply affected the college community and the wider city.

Sunderland College said it was deeply saddened by the loss of three students and extended its condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.

Tributes have since been paid as friends and members of the community gathered to remember the teenagers.

Chief Superintendent Scott Cowie, Area Commander for Sunderland, said the previous 24 hours had brought profound heartbreak to the victims’ loved ones.

“All three had their whole futures ahead of them and will be hugely missed,” he said, while asking the public to respect the families’ privacy.

FOUR PEOPLE WERE IN THE CAR

Police said there were four people in the Audi at the time of the incident.

A 17-year-old boy managed to reach safety after the vehicle entered the river. He suffered non-serious injuries and was initially taken to hospital.

He was later released from hospital and remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

However, investigators have stressed that it has not yet been established who was driving the Audi when it entered the river.

The arrest is an allegation, and no conclusion about the teenager’s responsibility has been reached.

Police have also said that, at this early stage, no other vehicles are believed to have been involved.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Northumbria Police are continuing to investigate exactly what happened in the moments before the Audi left the road.

Officers have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has CCTV or dashcam footage, to come forward.

Police have also urged people not to livestream or share images from the scene and have asked the public not to speculate about the circumstances of the crash.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Northumbria Police and quote reference NP-20260929-0589.

The investigation remains at an early stage, and police have not yet released a confirmed explanation for why the Audi entered the River Wear.

For the families of Jackson, Luke and Zara, however, the immediate reality is the loss of three teenagers whose lives were cut tragically short.

As the investigation continues, their loved ones are now facing the painful task of saying goodbye while the Sunderland community comes together to remember three young lives that had only just begun.