Teens who died in car that entered river named
Jackson Duke, Luke Etheridge and Zara Shaw died when the car they were in ended up in the Wear.
Three teenage lives were tragically lost when a car they were traveling in plunged into the River Wear near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland. Northumbria Police have identified the victims as 17-year-old Jackson Duke, 16-year-old Luke Etheridge, and 16-year-old Zara Shaw. The third victim, a 17-year-old boy, managed to escape the submerged vehicle and is now being held in connection with the fatal incident.
The three deceased were from Sunderland, with Jackson and Luke hailing from the city itself, while Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring, a nearby town. The circumstances surrounding the car's entry into the river, including the identity of the driver, are still under investigation by the police. The force has requested the public to refrain from speculating on the events leading up to the tragedy, out of respect for the families involved.
Ch Supt Scott Cowie, area commander for Sunderland, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the three young lives and acknowledged the broader impact on the community. Sunderland College also mourned the passing of three of its students and extended condolences to their loved ones. The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, North East Ambulance Service, and RNLI teams were among the emergency responders who assisted in the rescue operations on Tuesday.
The car was successfully recovered from the water on Wednesday, with no other vehicles believed to have been involved in the incident.
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