The VW Polo plunged into Britain’s River Nene on March 17, killing driver Declan Berry and passenger Eden Bunn
Credit: Cambridgeshire Police
NEED TO KNOW
- A car carrying five teenagers crashed into the River Nene in Wisbech St Mary, England on March 17
- Two people died, driver Declan Berry as well as passenger Eden Bunn
- During an inquest into their deaths, a surviving passenger said that when Berry was asked to slow down, he instead answered, “we will be fine”
New information is shedding light on the final moments before a car plunged into a river in England earlier this year, killing two teenagers.
On March 17, a VW Polo carrying three teenage girls and two teenage boys exited North Brink Road in Wisbech St. Mary, and landed in the River Nene around 8:20 p.m. local time, according to the Cambridgeshire Constabulary Police Department.
Two of the girls and one boy were able to escape the vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries, while the body of the third girl, identified as Eden Bunn, 16, was recovered from the water, according to a news release from police.
The body of the driver, 18-year-old Declan Berry, was recovered from the river two weeks later on March 31, police said in an update.
At an inquest into their deaths, officials revealed that Berry was driving 90 mph before the VW Polo plunged into the river, reported the BBC, ITV and Cambridgeshire Live.
According to a statement from one of the surviving passengers that was read in court, after a passenger asked him to “slow down,” he replied, “we will be fine.”
The passenger, who said that Bunn also shouted Berry’s name before the crash, said they believed the driver had wanted to “show off.”
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The road he was driving on had a speed limit of 60 mph as well as “numerous potholes,” according to Cambridgeshire Live.
A police report shared at the inquest indicated the vehicle’s speed was “the most significant contributory factor” that led to the crash, but that the road conditions, including the potholes, also played a part.
This week, Eden’s family issued a statement that was shared by the BBC and ITV.
“Eden was the kindest, most wonderful person and to have her snatched away from us so suddenly has left us heartbroken,” her family wrote. “She was a beautiful soul and had such a love of life. No words can describe the devastation we feel and we will never get over losing her”.”
“Nothing will bring Eden back,” her family continued, “and her death is a horrific reality we will have to live with forever.”
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Coroner’s Court did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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