Tributes paid to teenagers in river crash as search for driver continues

Declan Berry’s father Alan Berry told ITV News Anglia about his son

The family of a teenager missing after his car plunged into a river have told ITV News they are desperate to find him and lay him to rest.

Declan Berry’s father Alan laid flowers on North Brink in Wisbech St Mary, where five teenagers – all aged between 16 and 18 years-old – crashed into the River Nene on Tuesday evening at around 8.20pm.

Two girls and one boy managed to escape, but the body of 16-year-old Eden Bunn was recovered on Wednesday afternoon after hours of searches.

Her family paid tribute to her in a statement released through police, describing her as “the kindest, most loving girl we could ever wish for”.

“Her horses – Daisy and Dolly – were her world, and she was ours. Words cannot describe the tragedy that will stay with us until we are able to meet her again.”

The family of Declan Berry laid flowers at the scene on Thursday as the search for him continued. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Speaking at the scene, Mr Berry told ITV News Anglia about his missing son, adding: “Declan was always a joker, pulling pranks. I’m quite a serious person, but he wasn’t.

“He did things in his own pace. He’d always be telling me ‘Dad, there’s no rush’.

“He only passed his test two months ago. He told me he was going to apply for the army. He went to Birmingham for some training and we were a bit nervous about him because he’d never been away from home before.

“But he arrived home early, told us that he had passed and that he’d be starting on 10 July with the Royal Engineers. We were so proud of him. Just so, so proud.”

Declan Berry had passed his test two months ago, his family said. Credit: Family photograph

Eighteen-year-old Declan was one of seven children and had lived in Wisbech with his family for 13 years.

His older brother Connor said: “Declan was a quiet lad growing up. I’ve always tried to be the bigger brother he needed. He was always willing and keen to work; he wanted to work.

“He’s grown up around cars and bikes and just loved them. He was great at fixing up bikes himself and had a few that he’d fixed up.”

He said the brothers had “a really strong bond”.

“We started working together at Temple Transport in Spalding and within a week there, everyone loved him.

“This is going to be hard for everyone but we are a family and we will stand together and stay strong.”

All the teenagers involved are believed to have been former students of University Academy Long Sutton.

Dive teams have been working to search the river since Wednesday. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Searches led by specialist dive teams and involving the Metropolitan Police were continuing on Thursday to explore the waters in the River Nene.

A vehicle was found on Wednesday afternoon, but has not yet been removed from the water.

Det Ch Insp Garry Webb, from the roads policing unit, said: “This is a terrible tragedy and we are supporting all the families and the young survivors through what is a traumatic time for them all.

“Our priority today is to find the young man who remain unaccounted for and specialist search teams remain at the scene.

“Detectives from our serious collision investigation unit also remain at the scene and they will continue engagement with the survivors and all the families affected.”

They appealed for anyone with information to contact police, quoting incident 515 of 17 March.