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| Viola Beach 'did not suffer' after crash, inquest says | Viola Beach 'did not suffer' after crash, inquest says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An inquest into the deaths of British band Viola Beach after a crash in Sweden has heard that "none of the young men will have suffered". | An inquest into the deaths of British band Viola Beach after a crash in Sweden has heard that "none of the young men will have suffered". |
| The four-piece group and their manager, who were aged between 19 and 35, died on 13 February following a gig in Stockholm. | The four-piece group and their manager, who were aged between 19 and 35, died on 13 February following a gig in Stockholm. |
| Their car plunged off a bridge into a canal, about 18 miles from the capital. | Their car plunged off a bridge into a canal, about 18 miles from the capital. |
| The inquest heard no trace of alcohol or drugs was found in the blood of manager Craig Tarry, who was driving. | The inquest heard no trace of alcohol or drugs was found in the blood of manager Craig Tarry, who was driving. |
| Post-mortem examinations also showed the four band members had not taken drugs and had only consumed small amount of alcohol. | Post-mortem examinations also showed the four band members had not taken drugs and had only consumed small amount of alcohol. |
| The band's agent Graham Bennett told the inquest at Warrington Coroner's Court that the up-and-coming group were in Sweden for a festival showcasing young artists. | |
| Viola Beach had already played at the Reading and Leeds festivals last year and the Stockholm event was their first gig outside the UK. | |
| After the performance, they were travelling in a black Nissan Qashqai car near the Södertälje Canal, about 18 miles from the capital when a bridge opened to let a boat pass underneath. | |
| The inquest heard that the car was slightly over the speed limit as it was travelling at 108km/h (67mph)in a 100km/h zone. | |
| Warning lights | |
| In a written statement, a lorry driver said he saw the car drive around queuing traffic at the bridge before hitting the barriers. | |
| The inquest also heard that the car hit a raised section of the bridge before plunging 25m, hitting the water within 15 seconds. | |
| The crew of a passing boat saw it fall but initially thought it was ice. | |
| Swedish police said the vehicle had no deficiencies and the road was not slippery. | |
| One warning light on the bridge was out of order but there were at least 10 warning lights and flashing signals, the inquest heard. | |
| Who were Viola Beach? | |
| In the wake of their deaths, the band's first single Swings & Waterslides reached number 11, while Coldplay paid tribute at Glastonbury by performing their song Boys That Sing. | |
| Posthumously, Viola Beach scored a number one album in August. | |
| The self-titled debut was compiled by the band's families, using live sessions and studio recordings, many of which were originally bound for an EP. |