First pictures of three teenagers killed after Audi plunged into River Wear in Sunderland

The three teenagers who died after a car plunged into the River Wear in Sunderland have been named and pictured.

Jackson Duke, 17, Luke Etheridge, 16, and Zara Shaw, 16, were inside a black Audi A3 when it left the road near Panns Bank and Wearmouth Bridge shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday and entered the river.

A 17-year-old boy who survived the crash managed to escape from the vehicle and was initially taken to hospital with non-serious injuries. He was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Police said inquiries remain ongoing to establish who was driving the car when it entered the water.

All three victims were students at Sunderland College’s Bede Campus. The college described their deaths as a heartbreaking loss for both the college community and the wider city.

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

The Audi was later recovered from the River Wear by crane after police divers attached a harness to the vehicle.

Northumbria Police said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash remains ongoing.