UK band Viola Beach 'killed in Swedish car crash'

5:10 AM Unknown 1 Comments

Five British nationals have died in a car crash in Sweden, the Foreign Office has said.

It is understood all four members of the indie band Viola Beach - Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin - died in the accident.

The fifth victim is believed to be the band's manager Craig Tarry.

The car plunged more than 25m (82ft) into a canal from a highway bridge, which had opened to let a boat pass, near Stockholm on Saturday morning.

"We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this very difficult time," the Foreign Office said.

'Swings and Waterslides'

The Warrington-based band were due to play a gig in Guildford in Surrey on Saturday, but it was cancelled. They had been part of the line-up for Swedish music festival Where is the Music? on Friday.

The four-piece released their debut single Swings & Waterslides last year and had featured on BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming music artists.

The band's last post on Facebook was on 2 February, when they wrote about playing a gig in the US next month.

Tributes have been pouring in on social media for the band.

Travis lead singer Fran Healy tweeted: "So sad. @Viola_Beach :("

Ross Jarman, from The Cribs, tweeted: "Heart goes out to the Viola Beach guys and their families."

Indie rock band, The Enemy, tweeted: "RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved Huw Stephens tweet about Viola Beach

Four-piece band from Warrington, Cheshire
Kris Leonard - guitar, lead vocal; River Reeves - guitar; Tomas Lowe - bass; Jack Dakin - drums
Released debut single Swings & Waterslides last year
Played several BBC Introducing Sessions
Performed at Reading and Leeds Festival in 2015Swedish police said they received a call about 02:30 local time (01:30 GMT) and were on the scene within five minutes.
They said divers recovered the bodies of the victims - aged between 20 and 35 - after their Nissan Qashqai plunged through a gap in the bridge which had opened to let a boat pass underneath.

The bridge has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the car drove into, the police said.

A barrier before the opening has flashing lights and warning signs, the officer handling the case said, and other drivers were waiting behind the barrier.

Inspector Martin Bergholm said: "For some reason, the car drove through the barriers and crashed down into the canal.

"The witnesses just saw a car beside them and kind of disappear."

Eyewitness Jonny Alexandersson told the BBC he was waiting for the bridge to go down when he saw a car coming very fast on the left side.

"It was very tight," he said. "They passed me and in front of me was a taxi and the car smashed the side of this car and then they go in the barrier, then I don't see anything more of the car, the lights were gone."