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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/14/five-british-men-die-in-car-crash-in-stockholm-sweden
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| Members and manager of indie band Viola Beach die in car crash in Sweden | Members and manager of indie band Viola Beach die in car crash in Sweden |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Five British men, the members and manager of Warrington-based indie band Viola Beach, have died in a car crash in Sweden. | |
| The men, aged between 19 and 35, died when their car hit a road barrier and plunged more than 80ft off a bridge into a canal near the capital, Stockholm. | The men, aged between 19 and 35, died when their car hit a road barrier and plunged more than 80ft off a bridge into a canal near the capital, Stockholm. |
| Stockholm police spokeswoman Eva Nilsson said on Saturday that divers had recovered the bodies of five men. Tributes quickly came in on social media to the Cheshire band and their manager. | Stockholm police spokeswoman Eva Nilsson said on Saturday that divers had recovered the bodies of five men. Tributes quickly came in on social media to the Cheshire band and their manager. |
| The cause of the accident on the E4 highway in Södertälje district, south-west of Stockholm, was not known. Swedish media said that at the time of the pre-dawn accident, the bridge over the Södertälje canal was closing after it had been opened to let a vessel sail through. Its warning lamps were flashing and two barriers were blocking the road. | The cause of the accident on the E4 highway in Södertälje district, south-west of Stockholm, was not known. Swedish media said that at the time of the pre-dawn accident, the bridge over the Södertälje canal was closing after it had been opened to let a vessel sail through. Its warning lamps were flashing and two barriers were blocking the road. |
| The bridge, at the Saltskogs junction between the E4 and the E20 motorways, has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the car drove into. | The bridge, at the Saltskogs junction between the E4 and the E20 motorways, has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the car drove into. |
| The band was apparently heading to Arlanda airport to get to a gig in the UK later on Saturday, police said. Their gig in Norrköping on Friday had been their first outside the UK. | |
| Police have opened a investigation for suspected manslaughter, and are examining video footage from traffic cameras at the scene. | |
| Detectives had a “good idea” of how the accident happened but would not say any more while the investigation was in progress, Martin Bergholm, police inspector at Södertälje police, told TT news agency. | |
| Bergholm would not comment on whether police suspect intoxicants were associated with the accident, but he said warning devices at the bridge had operated as usual and other cars had stopped to wait while it was opened. | |
| “According to witness reports, the brake lights on the car were not operated, so it seems they simply didn’t see that the bridge was open,” Bergholm said, according to Aftonbladet newspaper. | |
| Witnesses quoted in Swedish media said the car drove at full speed past other stationary cars and disappeared into the darkness. | |
| “To get into the water a car must get past a red light and two barriers,” said Daniel Lindblad of the Swedish Maritime Administration, which always checks with the road transport administration before the bridge is opened to allow ships through. “The red light and the first barrier is just over 100 metres from the lifting part of the bridge. The second barrier is much closer to the edge.” | |
| Lindblad said the maritime and transport administrations had determined that nothing was wrong with the barriers or signal systems during the night. | |
| “If the barriers are not lowered, the bridge cannot open,” he told Expressen newspaper. “To go into the water a car must therefore pass through a red light and two barriers,” he said. | |
| Bergholm said it was not yet known whether the five men were wearing seatbelts, but added: “That would not have helped them.” | |
| Police received a call at about 2.30am and arrived at the scene a “maximum five minutes” later. | Police received a call at about 2.30am and arrived at the scene a “maximum five minutes” later. |
| Bergholm said: “Police arrived first, then the fire brigade who came with fire brigade divers at the scene and found the car and three bodies. We didn’t know how many people there were in the car but we found out there were five.” | Bergholm said: “Police arrived first, then the fire brigade who came with fire brigade divers at the scene and found the car and three bodies. We didn’t know how many people there were in the car but we found out there were five.” |
| The men were all identified using the passports they had on them and Swedish police are working with the Foreign Office global response centre. Bergholm said the case would be transferred to a specialist traffic incident team on Monday. Dates for the postmortem examinations have not yet been confirmed. | The men were all identified using the passports they had on them and Swedish police are working with the Foreign Office global response centre. Bergholm said the case would be transferred to a specialist traffic incident team on Monday. Dates for the postmortem examinations have not yet been confirmed. |
| Viola Beach were playing at Sweden’s Where’s the Music? festival on Friday, and had dozens of upcoming live shows planned, including one at Warrington’s the Pyramid on 12 March. The band were due to play at the Boiler Room in Guildford on Saturday. | Viola Beach were playing at Sweden’s Where’s the Music? festival on Friday, and had dozens of upcoming live shows planned, including one at Warrington’s the Pyramid on 12 March. The band were due to play at the Boiler Room in Guildford on Saturday. |
| The up-and-coming band previously toured with the Courteeners and worked with Communion Records founder and Mumford and Sons producer Ian Grimble. | The up-and-coming band previously toured with the Courteeners and worked with Communion Records founder and Mumford and Sons producer Ian Grimble. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that five British nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on 13 February. We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this difficult time.” | A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm that five British nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on 13 February. We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this difficult time.” |
| Viola Beach consisted of the guitarist and vocalist Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin. The band’s manager was Craig Tarry. | Viola Beach consisted of the guitarist and vocalist Kris Leonard, guitarist River Reeves, bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin. The band’s manager was Craig Tarry. |
| Tarry’s family paid tribute to a “warm, loving person who had worked tirelessly to achieve success and follow his dreams within the music industry”. They added: “The family are devastated by these events and are grieving the loss of their son and also for the other families involved in this tragic accident... [Craig] will be sadly missed by his family and his colleagues.” | |
| Others described the manager as a “man of unshakable optimism” and a passionate Manchester City supporter. The football club’s fans were rallying on Twitter to arrange a round of applause during the Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur Premier League match on Sunday. | |
| The Hollywood branch of the Manchester City Supporters Club said: “We are devastated at the loss of blue Craig Tarry in the accident.” | The Hollywood branch of the Manchester City Supporters Club said: “We are devastated at the loss of blue Craig Tarry in the accident.” |
| The Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens posted: “So sorry to hear the news about Viola Beach and their manager. The saddest news. Thinking of all their families at this awful time.” | The Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens posted: “So sorry to hear the news about Viola Beach and their manager. The saddest news. Thinking of all their families at this awful time.” |
| Theresa Griffin, Labour MEP for the North-West of England, wrote: “Tragic news – so bright local music talent taken so young thoughts & prayers with families & friends violabeach.” The model and former Strictly Come Dancing winner Abbey Clancy said it was “such tragic news”. | |
| Ross Jarman, from the Cribs, said his “heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families”. The Coral’s James Skelly posted: “So sorry to hear about viola beach and Craig tarry’s accident so sad, their families must be devastated.” | Ross Jarman, from the Cribs, said his “heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families”. The Coral’s James Skelly posted: “So sorry to hear about viola beach and Craig tarry’s accident so sad, their families must be devastated.” |
| The Enemy said: “RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x.” | The Enemy said: “RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x.” |
| Very sad news about the guys from Viola Beach - Bright young Warrington band, looked like they were going to go big. RIP lads x | Very sad news about the guys from Viola Beach - Bright young Warrington band, looked like they were going to go big. RIP lads x |
| Thoughts go out to Viola Beach and their manager's families. Terrible news. A rising success and a great new band, they will be missed x | Thoughts go out to Viola Beach and their manager's families. Terrible news. A rising success and a great new band, they will be missed x |
| I am so so devastated to hear about viola beach and their manager, such a talented band that I loved so much, RIP:( | I am so so devastated to hear about viola beach and their manager, such a talented band that I loved so much, RIP:( |
| Desperately sad news about Viola Beach. Talented musicians and their friends only spoke highly of them. Major loss for Warrington. RIP. | Desperately sad news about Viola Beach. Talented musicians and their friends only spoke highly of them. Major loss for Warrington. RIP. |
| Just heard horrendous news about @Viola_Beach. Fellow Warrington lads, they rehearsed next door to us. Our thoughts are with their families | Just heard horrendous news about @Viola_Beach. Fellow Warrington lads, they rehearsed next door to us. Our thoughts are with their families |
| Management at the Boiler Room – the venue that Viola Beach were to play in Guildford on Saturday evening – said they were “saddened and devastated”. | Management at the Boiler Room – the venue that Viola Beach were to play in Guildford on Saturday evening – said they were “saddened and devastated”. |
| A post on the venue’s Instagram page said: “Last night, upon receiving the news the opening band Viola Beach had been involved in an accident, the decision was made by the headline artists Blossoms to cancel the performance. | A post on the venue’s Instagram page said: “Last night, upon receiving the news the opening band Viola Beach had been involved in an accident, the decision was made by the headline artists Blossoms to cancel the performance. |
| “We are saddened and devastated as details have come to light of this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with friends and family.” | “We are saddened and devastated as details have come to light of this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with friends and family.” |
| Callum Bate, described on his Twitter profile as an engineer for the band, said: “The boys from Viola Beach were the most hardworking and honest bunch of lads. So honoured to work with them for the past months. RIP boys X.” | Callum Bate, described on his Twitter profile as an engineer for the band, said: “The boys from Viola Beach were the most hardworking and honest bunch of lads. So honoured to work with them for the past months. RIP boys X.” |
| Singer and activist Billy Bragg joined the musicians paying tribute, saying he was thinking of the band’s families. |