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Story summary
On Tuesday afternoon at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland, a black Audi A3 went off the road and plunged into the River Wear around 1:30 PM BST, resulting in the deaths of three teenagers. Four people were initially in the car; two teenage boys (Jackson Duke, 17, and Luke Etheridge, 16) from Sunderland, and Zara Shaw, 16, from Houghton-le-Spring. A fourth teen, a 17-year-old boy who managed to escape, was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene where they worked tirelessly but could not save the three teenagers whose tragic deaths sent shockwaves through the local community. Sunderland College, which the victims attended, released a statement expressing profound sadness and devastation over the loss of their students.
Families have since shared heartfelt tributes to the deceased teens, remembering Luke as a dedicated Sunderland fan who loved his dog Wilf, and Zara for her zest for life and infectious smile. The incident has sparked local mourning and reflections on community resilience in the face of such tragedy.
Written for “Car Plunge Into River Wear Deaths” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
The families of two teenagers who died when the car they were in ended up in a river have paid tribute to their kindness and "zest for life".
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they → publish → life
Sixteen-year-olds Luke Etheridge and Zara Shaw died along with Jackson Duke, 17, when the black Audi A3 they were in came off the road at Panns Bank near Wearmouth Bridge, Sunderland, and plunged into the Wear just before 13:30 BST on Tuesday.
Luke's family said the Sunderland fan was caring and loved their dog Wilf, adding their hearts would "ache forever".
Zara had a "zest for life" and an "infectious laugh and smile", making her family proud "from day one", they said in a tribute.
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they → die → tribute
All three teens were students at Sunderland College, which said the news had "devastated" everyone across its community.
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news → say → community
Luke's family said the teen, who played in Seaham Red Star Football Club Youth Section's U17 team, was kind and funny and loved shopping for clothes, watching and playing football.
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who → say → football
"He always knew the most up-to-date Sunderland football news and shared it with us immediately.
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He → know → us
Sunderland will miss its number one fan," they said in a tribute.
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they → miss → tribute
"Luke loved spending time with all his friends and family.
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Luke → love → friends
As a family we did everything together from football to holidays, shopping trips and spending time with Wilf our dog.
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we → do → Wilf
"Luke is our life, we miss him so bad.
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we → miss → him
Our hearts will ache forever."
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hearts → ache → ?
'Life loved you'
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Life → love → you
Zara's family said she had "come into this world with a fight, and we know you left it doing the same".
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you → say → same
She had previously attended The Drama Lab in Sunderland.
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She → attend → Sunderland
"You had a zest for life and life loved you," her family said in a tribute.
"Created as a companion for your sister, Olivia, who loves you deeply and unconditionally.
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who → have → you
You made us proud from day one, you studied and learnt new skills and made life time friends.
"Having fun along the way with your dance videos, infectious laugh and smile, you have always been our beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, girlfriend and best friend.
"
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you → make → videos
To everyone who has been in Zara's life we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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we → thank → hearts
You made her what she became."
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she → make → ?
Sunderland College also paid tributes to the teens.
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College → pay → teens
It said Luke was a "charming, approachable and genuinely lovely lad", whose "kindness, enthusiasm and character" touched all at the sixth form.
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kindness → say → form
In a tribute to Zara, it said her "friendliness, warmth, kindness and beautiful smile made an instant impression" and she was always willing to support other students.
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she → say → students
The college added Jackson, who played for Hebburn Town Juniors and the club's U18s team, was a "polite, kind and funny young man", whose presence lifted others.
Follow BBC Sunderland on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external and listen on BBC Sounds.
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presence → add → Sounds
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