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| Viola Beach band crash 'awful tragedy', says coroner | Viola Beach band crash 'awful tragedy', says coroner |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A coroner has said he does not think it will "ever be known" what caused the crash that killed the British group Viola Beach and their manager. | A coroner has said he does not think it will "ever be known" what caused the crash that killed the British group Viola Beach and their manager. |
| The four-member band, who were aged between 19 and 27, died on 13 February following a gig in Sweden. | |
| Their car crashed into a raised section of a bridge and plummeted into a canal. | Their car crashed into a raised section of a bridge and plummeted into a canal. |
| Addressing the deceased men's families, Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg described the crash as "the most awful tragedy". | |
| He ruled that manager Craig Tarry, 32, and band members River Reeves, Jack Dakin, Kris Leonard - all aged 19 - died due to head injuries. | He ruled that manager Craig Tarry, 32, and band members River Reeves, Jack Dakin, Kris Leonard - all aged 19 - died due to head injuries. |
| Bass guitarist Tomas Lowe, 27, died due to drowning, the inquest in their Warrington hometown found. | Bass guitarist Tomas Lowe, 27, died due to drowning, the inquest in their Warrington hometown found. |
| Mr Rheinberg said: "It's not for me to speculate... I don't think it ever will be known what happened." | |
| He added that "the evidence did not reveal the cause of sequence of events" that led to their deaths. | He added that "the evidence did not reveal the cause of sequence of events" that led to their deaths. |
| The inquest heard no alcohol or drugs was found in the blood of Mr Tarry, who was driving the band to their hotel. | |
| Warning lights | Warning lights |
| Post-mortem examinations also showed the four band members had not taken drugs and had only consumed small amounts of alcohol. | Post-mortem examinations also showed the four band members had not taken drugs and had only consumed small amounts of alcohol. |
| The group's agent Graham Bennett told Warrington Coroner's Court that the up-and-coming band were in Sweden for a festival showcasing young artists. | |
| Viola Beach had already played at the Reading and Leeds festivals last year and the event in Norrköping was their first gig outside the UK. | |
| After the performance, they were travelling in a black Nissan Qashqai near the Södertälje Canal, about 18 miles from Stockholm, when a bridge was raised 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. | 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. |
| Flashing lights signalled that the bridge was about to be raised with the middle section of the road lifted horizontally, the inquest heard. | Flashing lights signalled that the bridge was about to be raised with the middle section of the road lifted horizontally, the inquest heard. |
| Mr Tarry drove down a verge past stationary queuing traffic and through the first set of barriers, about 120m from the bridge, the court heard. | Mr Tarry drove down a verge past stationary queuing traffic and through the first set of barriers, about 120m from the bridge, the court heard. |
| The car then travelled in a "controlled manner" at between 70 and 90km/h down the centre of the road. | The car then travelled in a "controlled manner" at between 70 and 90km/h down the centre of the road. |
| It continued through a second set of barriers - 30m from the drop into the canal - and hit the raised section of the bridge before plummeting 25m, hitting the water within 15 seconds. | It continued through a second set of barriers - 30m from the drop into the canal - and hit the raised section of the bridge before plummeting 25m, hitting the water within 15 seconds. |
| The court heard a tanker using the canal, which had requested the bridge to be lifted, then passed over the crash spot and "contact" with the car could not be ruled out. | The court heard a tanker using the canal, which had requested the bridge to be lifted, then passed over the crash spot and "contact" with the car could not be ruled out. |
| The crew of a passing boat saw the car fall but initially thought it was ice. | The crew of a passing boat saw the car fall but initially thought it was ice. |
| Technical examinations did not find any errors with the car, barrier system or the procedure for raising the bridge. | Technical examinations did not find any errors with the car, barrier system or the procedure for raising the bridge. |
| One warning light on the bridge was out of order but there were at least 10 warning lights and flashing signals, the inquest heard. | One warning light on the bridge was out of order but there were at least 10 warning lights and flashing signals, the inquest heard. |
| Although the road was wet, it was not frozen with ice. | Although the road was wet, it was not frozen with ice. |
| The court heard that the three band members sitting in the back of the car were not wearing seatbelts but those in the front were, and had to be cut from the vehicle. | The court heard that the three band members sitting in the back of the car were not wearing seatbelts but those in the front were, and had to be cut from the vehicle. |
| Supt Martin Cleworth, from Cheshire Police, said outside the Warrington court: "We don't know the final answer... in terms of what actually happened at those moments just prior to the final collision and tragic descent into the water." | Supt Martin Cleworth, from Cheshire Police, said outside the Warrington court: "We don't know the final answer... in terms of what actually happened at those moments just prior to the final collision and tragic descent into the water." |
| The Swedish authorities have recommended improvements to the crossing, including LED signs and cameras on the bridge. | The Swedish authorities have recommended improvements to the crossing, including LED signs and cameras on the bridge. |
| More than 20 relatives of the deceased men attended Wednesday's inquest. | |
| Who were Viola Beach? | Who were Viola Beach? |
| In the wake of their deaths, the band's first single Swings & Waterslides reached number 11, while their song Boys That Sing was performed by Coldplay in a tribute at Glastonbury. | In the wake of their deaths, the band's first single Swings & Waterslides reached number 11, while their song Boys That Sing was performed by Coldplay in a tribute at Glastonbury. |
| Posthumously, Viola Beach scored a number one album in August. | 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. | 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. |
| After the crash, a statement from the families of the band said: "We are tremendously proud of everything the boys achieved in such a short space of time. | After the crash, a statement from the families of the band said: "We are tremendously proud of everything the boys achieved in such a short space of time. |
| "Craig, Jack, Kris, River and Tom shared a huge passion, talent and dedication to music." | "Craig, Jack, Kris, River and Tom shared a huge passion, talent and dedication to music." |