Three Teenagers Die After Car Enters River Wear in Sunderland
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Three teenagers die after a car enters river
By Federica Bedendo and Evie Lake, North East and Cumbria
Published 29 September 2026, 15:25 BST
Updated 10 minutes ago
Three teenagers have died after a car entered the River Wear in Sunderland.
Northumbria Police stated that a black Audi A3 veered off the road at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge around 13:30 BST and plunged into the water.
Four individuals were in the vehicle at the time, and a 17-year-old boy successfully swam to safety and is currently in hospital with non-serious injuries. He has since been arrested in connection to the incident.
The bodies of two teenage boys and a teenage girl have been recovered from the river.
No other vehicles are believed to have been involved.
Ch Supt Scott Cowie, area commander for Sunderland, described the incident as "a truly tragic one". He expressed sympathies to the families and friends of the victims.
The investigation is still in its early stages, with Northumbria Police working to establish the circumstances.
Members of the public are advised to avoid the area while rescue efforts continue.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, the North East Ambulance Service, and the RNLI were all on the scene assisting.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness was informed about the incident and requested regular updates from the incident commander.
Labour MP for Sunderland Central, Lewis Atkinson, shared his condolences on X, stating, "My thoughts are with everyone involved and their families, and with the emergency services responding to the scene."
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