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Entire rock band perishes in tragic tour crash

Family members confirmed the tragedy. Photo: Facebook

Family members confirmed the tragedy. Photo: Facebook

All four members of British indie band Viola Beach and their manager have died in a road crash in Sweden following their first international gig, family members confirmed.

The men aged between 20 and 35 died when their car hit a barrier and plunged 25 metres off a canal bridge in Sodertalje, a southern district of the capital Stockholm.

Their vehicle reportedly approached the bridge, which was not fully shut, at high speed.

“We can confirm that our son Craig, along with four members of the band Viola Beach, were involved in a fatal accident in the early hours of Saturday morning,” said a statement issued by the family of manager Craig Tarry.

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“First indications are that the barriers and signal lights were functioning correctly,” police spokesman Towe Hagg said.

Other vehicles were waiting for the bridge to close fully but “one car arrived at a crazy speed … at least 70 to 80 kilometres per hour,” said Jonny Alexandersson, a lorry driver who witnessed the incident.

“That’s very quick when everybody else was stopped.”

Family members confirmed the tragedy. Photo: Facebook

Family members confirmed the tragedy. Photo: Facebook

The family of guitarist River Reeves said they were “heartbroken” by the news.

“Viola Beach were on such an exciting journey and River could not have been happier. He would have loved to have stuck around for the party,” said a family statement.

News of the tragedy spread quickly on social media and fellow band The Enemy tweeted: “RIP Viola Beach and their manager. Such incredibly tragic and sad news. Thought with the friends and families of all involved x.”

A contributor to Viola Beach’s Facebook page wrote: “So awful. Taken before anybody had the chance to see what they might have become.”

Another wrote: “Such sad news, you guys were gonna be big.”

The band, who last year had released a debut single, had been in Sweden for a Friday night festival in the central city of Norrkoping and were headed back to Britain for a gig the following day at Guildford in southern England.

“It was the first time they had played outside of Britain. They were full of hope,” festival organiser Folkert Koopmans said.

“Sadly it seems the four and their manager died in the accident. It’s terrible.”

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