Police issue update on investigation after car is recovered from River Wear in Sunderland

Police have issued an update into an investigation launched after a car was recovered from the River Wear in Sunderland.
By Fiona Thompson
Published 16th Nov 2020, 13:03 BST
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Inquiries were launched at 8.15am on Thursday, November 12, after the black vehicle was spotted in the water close to the Queen Alexandra Bridge.

Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit helped support officers as the car was retrieved from the banks and lifted on to the back of a recovery truck the next morning.

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Efforts were launched to try and trace the driver and work out how it came to be in the river, although it was not believed anyone was injured.

This photo from Northumbria Police shows the car as it was lifted out of the River Wear.This photo from Northumbria Police shows the car as it was lifted out of the River Wear.
This photo from Northumbria Police shows the car as it was lifted out of the River Wear.
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Today, Monday, November 16, the force said its officers had spoken to the driver, with no further action to be taken.

Sunderland RNLI and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were also involved in the initial efforts to check the car when it was reported to the emergency services.

Sunderland Central Fire Station’s White Watch was called to the scene, with checks made to ensure the car was empty before the matter was handed over to the police.

Images shared by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as it worked with the RNLI to check no one was inside the car.Images shared by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as it worked with the RNLI to check no one was inside the car.
Images shared by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as it worked with the RNLI to check no one was inside the car.
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A spokesperson for the RNLI said: “Our team of volunteers worked alongside other emergency services to ensure no one was trapped in the vehicle after entered the River Wear.

“After spending an hour at the scene they were stood down and released from the incident allowing our volunteers to return to their full time jobs."

Photos shared by the fire service show the vehicle submerged in water a number of metres off the south banks of the river near Deptford.

A photo shared by Northumbria Police as its officers recovered the car from the water.A photo shared by Northumbria Police as its officers recovered the car from the water.
A photo shared by Northumbria Police as its officers recovered the car from the water.

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