‘Devastated’ family pay tribute to girl, 16, killed when car full of teenagers plunged into river – as driver, 18, remains missing

The ‘devastated’ family of a 16-year-old girl killed when a car plunged into a river in Cambridgeshire have paid tribute, as the driver remains missing.

Eden Bunn, 16, from Sutton Bridge, died after the car she was travelling in entered the River Nene at North Brink near Wisbech St Mary on Tuesday.

Declan Berry, 18, from Wisbech, who remains missing, is believed to have been driving the VW Polo when it entered the water.

The vehicle, which was carrying five teenagers southbound aged 16 to 18, left the road and entered the water at around 8.20pm.

Three people, two females and one male, are known to have got out of the vehicle and were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn with non-life-threatening injuries.

A further teenage boy and girl were classed as missing by police, until officers pulled the body of the female from the river on Wednesday afternoon.

In a tribute, Eden’s parents, Lisa and Dean, her brother Jay, sister Shelby and nephew Axl said: ‘Eden was 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.’

+5
View gallery

Eden Bunn, 16, from Sutton Bridge, died after the car she was travelling in entered the River Nene at North Brink near Wisbech St Mary on Tuesday

+5
View gallery

Declan Berry, 18, from Wisbech, who remains missing, is believed to have been driving the VW Polo when it entered the water

Today, Declan’s family laid flowers at the side of the River Nene. A statement released through Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: ‘We are absolutely devastated beyond words and ask for privacy during this tragic time.’

Relatives posted photographs of flowers laid at the scene, describing the last few days as ‘very long’ and ’emotional’.

His brother, who previously shared a photo of Declan to celebrate his 18th birthday last week, added: ‘If anyone want to come leave flowers that’s fine the more the better.

‘We are also going to give him a big send off that everyone will be invited to when the times and dates are confirmed.

‘We will keep you all updated thank you for your support, lots of love from the Berry family and myself.’

One of Declan’s sisters said: ‘We are still currently waiting for him to be found, we are hoping we can arrange a funeral and a good send off with all his family and friends which would be welcome.

‘FOREVER 18 brother, miss and love you always.’

Declan’s mother was understood to have visited the riverside on Thursday, as police divers temporarily suspended their search for the missing teenager.

+5
View gallery

Declan has been confirmed to be missing following the crash in Cambridgeshire by members of his family

+5
View gallery

Relatives of 18-year-old Declan Berry laid flowers at the side of the River Nene near the town of Wisbech St Mary on Thursday

Of the three teenagers treated after the incident, one 16-year-old girl remains in hospital.

Another 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy have since been discharged.

Efforts remain ongoing to find Declan, whose social media accounts show a passion for motorbikes. Friends said he had a part-time job in a motorcycle shop, having previous done work as a gardener.

A friend of the teenagers said two of the survivors had visited the accident spot yesterday.

They said none of those in the car had been drinking and described Declan as a careful driver.

The friend said one of the girls, who has injuries to her hands and head but was discharged from hospital, is ‘absolutely devastated and traumatised’.

Adding the teenager had escaped from the vehicle by climbing through a smashed window, they added: ‘I don’t know how she survived.

‘How could someone who can’t swim have got out of that car?

‘She’s sad. She’s lost her phone so she doesn’t have any memories now of her friend.

‘She got injured on her hands where she climbed out of the smashed window from where the car rolled over.’

One of her relatives told the Daily Mail: ‘She’s very lucky to be alive. It must have been horrible for the parents of everybody.

‘It was quite horrific for her, the way it happened.’

The friend added: ‘I don’t want people to think he [Declan] was the cause of the deaths. He’s just a young boy. He was not a reckless driver.

‘He’d been driving a motorbike before he got a car. They wouldn’t be saying it was reckless driving if it was a 40-year-old who died.

‘Let the police do their investigation.’

A family friend said: ‘This is every parent’s worst nightmare.

‘Considering Declan’s had a motorbike for a long time, he was a good driver. He’d only just not long turned 18.

+5
View gallery

Cambridgeshire police remained at the scene on Wednesday evening after recovery of the 16-year-old’s body

‘I’ve never known a car to go into that part of the River. The banks are high. It’s just tragic.’

A dark green metal barrier stretches along most of the riverbank close to the single track carriageway which is also flanked by a five foot high grass bank.

The barrier varies in height from around three to eight feet in certain parts but it is not continuous along the whole stretch of North Brink.

The Church of St Mary in Wisbech announced it would open to the public on Thursday and Friday from 4-6pm for anyone needing support.

A statement posted on social media said flowers for the youngsters could be brought to the church, and added: ‘Our thoughts are with them, and with their families and friends at this incredibly difficult time.’

Billy Cunningham, a local resident, told how he was one of the first on scene to the ‘horrific’ crash and witnessed the teenagers climbing out of the car.

He said the teenagers said the car had hit a pothole and the driver had lost control.

‘Then as the ambulance turned up, we saw a young girl just screaming in the hedges.

‘We were out there with the police and our torches trying to check no one had got out and was lying on the bank.

‘This isn’t the first time something like this has happened here. One year we had a lady go off the road at exactly the same bit.

‘People fly over the junction at Beavis Lane and end up on the bank. God knows how they ended up in the river.

‘People do speed down here. It’s a dead straight road.

‘They do 60mph, more, because there’s no speed cameras or police cars. It should be a 30mph road – 40mph at a push. The quality of the tarmac is shocking.’

Other locals said they had gone out to search along the bank with torches in the immediate aftermath.

DI Craig Wheeler, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘This is a truly devastating collision, for all involved. My thoughts are with the friends and family of Eden and Declan during this truly horrific time.

‘Our investigation is at an early stage, but I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the collision or the blue VW Polo in the Wisbech area between 7pm and 8.20pm on Tuesday to contact police.

‘Our focus remains on trying to find Declan, however due to challenging nature of the river, this could be a timely process. During this period, there will be an increased police presence along the River Nene whilst we continue our efforts to find him.’

The River Nene at North Brink is a tidal stretch of water which links to The Wash.

Its depth varies with the tide, ranging from 9 to 15 feet.

Police are appealing for witnesses and those with dashcam footage to contact them, referencing incident 515 of March 17.