This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35572838
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
UK band Viola Beach killed in Swedish car crash | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The four members of British indie band Viola Beach and their manager have died in a car crash in Sweden. | |
Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin and manager Craig Tarry were killed when their car plunged more than 25m (82ft) from a highway bridge into a canal. | |
The accident happened in the early hours of Saturday near Stockholm. | |
BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens said the Warrington band had toured with bigger bands and were "incredibly promising". | |
"We can confirm that five British nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on February 13," the Foreign Office said. | |
"We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this very difficult time." | |
'Swings and Waterslides' | 'Swings and Waterslides' |
The band were part of the line-up for Swedish music festival Where is the Music? on Friday and were due to play a gig in Guildford in Surrey on Saturday. | |
The Boiler Room - the Guildford venue they were due to play - said it was "saddened and devastated" to learn of the fatal crash. | |
Blossoms, the band which was meant to be headlining the gig, tweeted: "Absolutely devastated for the loss of Viola Beach and Craig Tarry. Our thoughts are with their friends and families." | |
Viola Beach released their debut single Swings & Waterslides last year and had featured on BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming music artists. | |
The four piece's last post on Facebook was on 2 February, when they wrote about playing a gig in the US next month. | |
Tributes have been pouring in on social media for the band. | Tributes have been pouring in on social media for the band. |
Travis lead singer Fran Healy tweeted: "So sad. @Viola_Beach :(" | Travis lead singer Fran Healy tweeted: "So sad. @Viola_Beach :(" |
Ross Jarman, from The Cribs, tweeted: "Heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families." | Ross Jarman, from The Cribs, tweeted: "Heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families." |
Indie rock band, The Enemy, tweeted: "RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x" | Indie rock band, The Enemy, tweeted: "RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x" |
Viola Beach | Viola Beach |
Swedish police said they received a call about 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) and were on the scene within five minutes. | Swedish police said they received a call about 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) and were on the scene within five minutes. |
They said divers recovered the bodies of the victims - aged between 20 and 35 - after their Nissan Qashqai plunged through a gap in the bridge which had opened to let a boat pass underneath. | They said divers recovered the bodies of the victims - aged between 20 and 35 - after their Nissan Qashqai plunged through a gap in the bridge which had opened to let a boat pass underneath. |
The bridge has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the car drove into, the police said. | The bridge has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the car drove into, the police said. |
A barrier before the opening has flashing lights and warning signs, the officer handling the case said, and other drivers were waiting behind the barrier. | A barrier before the opening has flashing lights and warning signs, the officer handling the case said, and other drivers were waiting behind the barrier. |
Inspector Martin Bergholm said: "For some reason, the car drove through the barriers and crashed down into the canal. | Inspector Martin Bergholm said: "For some reason, the car drove through the barriers and crashed down into the canal. |
"The witnesses just saw a car beside them and kind of disappear." | "The witnesses just saw a car beside them and kind of disappear." |
Eyewitness Jonny Alexandersson told the BBC he was waiting for the bridge to go down when he saw a car coming very fast on the left side. | Eyewitness Jonny Alexandersson told the BBC he was waiting for the bridge to go down when he saw a car coming very fast on the left side. |
"It was very tight," he said. "They passed me and in front of me was a taxi and the car smashed the side of this car and then they go in the barrier, then I don't see anything more of the car, the lights were gone." | "It was very tight," he said. "They passed me and in front of me was a taxi and the car smashed the side of this car and then they go in the barrier, then I don't see anything more of the car, the lights were gone." |