UK band, Viola Beach killed in Sweden

4-piece British Band, Viola Beach who died in an auto crash in Sweden Saturday, 13 Feb. 2016. PHOTO: BBC

4-piece British Band, Viola Beach who died in an auto crash in Sweden Saturday, 13 Feb. 2016. PHOTO: BBC

4-piece British Band, Viola Beach who died in an auto crash in Sweden Saturday, 13 Feb. 2016. PHOTO: BBC
4-piece British Band, Viola Beach who died in an auto crash in Sweden Saturday, 13 Feb. 2016. PHOTO: BBC

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

According to the BBC, it is understood all four members of the indie band Viola Beach died in the accident, which happened on Saturday near the Swedish capital Stockholm.

The car plunged more than 25m (82ft) from a highway bridge into a canal, the police say.

The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the local authorities and supporting the families of the victims.

The Warrington-based band members were Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin.

They were due to play a gig in Guildford in Surrey on Saturday, and were part of the line-up for Swedish music festival Where is the Music? on Friday.

Scene of fatal crash involving British Band, Viola Beach. PHOTO: Reuters
Scene of fatal crash involving British Band, Viola Beach. PHOTO: Reuters

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

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

Viola Beach

Four-piece band from Warrington, Cheshire

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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 2015

Wrecked car driven by Viola Beach being  towed from the canal under the E4 highway bridge in Stockholm. PHOT: AFP
Wrecked car driven by Viola Beach being towed from the canal under the E4 highway bridge in Stockholm. PHOT: AFP

Local police 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, Swedish 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.”

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