Teens named as fatal river crash search continues

Searches for a missing 18-year-old man continue after a car entered a river and killed one of its passengers.

Declan Berry was believed to be driving the blue VW Polo that left the road and entered the River Nene in Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire, at about 20:20 GMT on Tuesday.

The body of 16-year-old Eden Bunn, who was believed to be a rear-seat passenger of the vehicle, was found by divers on Wednesday. Three other young people, aged between 16 and 18, managed to escape the car.

"Words cannot describe the tragedy that will stay with us until we are able to meet her again," Eden's parents said in a statement.

"Eden was the kindest, most loving girl we could ever wish for.

"Her horses – Daisy and Dolly – were her world, and she was ours."

Eden was from Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire, while Declan is from Wisbech.

Declan's family and friends said in a statement: "We are absolutely devastated beyond words and ask for privacy during this tragic time."

Two girls aged 16 and one 18-year-old man managed to escape the vehicle and were taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

One of the girls remains in hospital.

Det Ch Insp Garry Webb, from the Cambridgeshire Police roads unit, said the group were "good friends" and on their way home when the "tragic accident" happened.

"The area does look quite peaceful, but within the water there is a significant current and a significant tide," he told the BBC.

"That's making it really hard for any officers to enter the water, to the extent that we're unable to put boats on the water because of the risks it poses."

Webb asked anyone who may have seen the collision or who saw the VW Polo being driven between 19:00 and 20:00 to contact police.

A police spokesperson said no arrests had been made.

Rose, a friend of Declan, said: "When I heard the news it was just heartbreaking.

"I think that is the worst part, knowing that he has still not been found," she added.

She said Declan had the "sweetest heart" and that she was thinking about the families of both teenagers.

Billy Cunningham, who lives on North Brink where the incident happened, said his wife rang to tell him that a car was in the river.

"We were out here with torches and everything helping but there isn't really a lot you can do," he said.

"You can't really see a lot, it is very dark as well and it needs lightening up."

He continued: "We knew of them. It is terrible."

The car was travelling southbound along North Brink, a narrow road on the outskirts of Wisbech town centre, that runs alongside the River Nene.

A grass bank separates the area between the road and the river.

Search teams have included divers from the Metropolitan Police.

North Brink was closed to the public on Wednesday but has since reopened.

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