Inquests have been opened into the deaths of three teenagers who died when a vehicle plunged into a river in Sunderland. Jackson Duke, 17, and 16-year-olds Luke Etheridge and Zara Shaw perished when a black Audi A3 entered the River Wear at Panns Bank just before 13:30 BST on 29 September. A coroner has concluded that two of the three most likely drowned.
A 17-year-old boy who was also in the vehicle managed to escape and reach safety. He has been released on bail pending further inquiries after being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Opening the inquests for Jackson and Luke at Sunderland's City Hall, senior coroner David Place described the incident as
a tragic time for the whole city. Zara's inquest was due to be opened later that same Monday.
How did the incident unfold?
Northumbria Police received reports of a car entering the river at Panns Bank. During the short hearings, coroner's officer Vicky Ross explained that one of the vehicle's four occupants managed to self-extricate themselves from the Audi, but the other three could not escape. Their bodies were subsequently recovered from the submerged car by divers.
The Audi was recovered from the river on Wednesday, 30 September, with police confirming they did not believe another vehicle was involved in the incident. A multi-agency rescue operation had responded to the emergency, involving police, coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, firefighters, ambulance teams and a search-and-rescue helicopter.
What did the post-mortem examinations reveal?
A post-mortem examination carried out on 1 October concluded that Jackson's provisional cause of death was consistent with drowning, the coroner stated during a seven-minute hearing. A pathologist similarly determined that Luke's cause of death was consistent with drowning. The coroner offered his condolences to the families of both boys, who attended their respective hearings.
Who were the victims?
Jackson and Luke were both from Sunderland, while Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring. All three were students at Sunderland College, which described the loss of its three students as heartbreaking and said it was offering support to staff and students.
What happens next?
A review hearing for Jackson Duke and Luke Etheridge has been scheduled for 21 January. Zara Shaw's inquest proceedings will continue separately. The investigation into the circumstances of the incident remains ongoing.
Key Facts
- Three teenagers died when a black Audi A3 entered the River Wear on 29 September at Panns Bank in Sunderland
- A fourth occupant, a 17-year-old boy, escaped and has been released on bail on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving
- Post-mortem examinations concluded that Jackson Duke and Luke Etheridge's deaths were consistent with drowning
- All three victims were students at Sunderland College
- Review hearings for the two boys are scheduled for 21 January
