Viola Beach deaths: Bodies returned to family members
- Published
The Warrington quartet died with their manager after their car fell from a bridge
The bodies of band Viola Beach - who died in a car crash in Sweden - have been released to their families.
Tomas Lowe, 27, Kris Leonard, River Reeves, and Jack Dakin, all 20, and their manager Craig Tarry, 33, were killed when their car plunged into a canal on 13 February.
Inquests into their deaths were opened and adjourned earlier in Warrington.
Senior Coroner for Cheshire Nicholas Rheinberg released the five men's bodies so funerals could take place.
The brief hearing at Warrington Town Hall was attended by 11 family members.
Det Sgt Elaine Duddle from Cheshire Police told the inquests the band's car was travelling along the E4 motorway and passed through a restricted area when it collided with barriers.
Restricted area
She said the five men suffered severe injuries and the car then fell into the canal below the bridge, about 18 miles from Stockholm in Sodertalje.
Mr Rheinberg heard that cooperation between UK and Swedish Police had been good since the crash in Stockholm last month.
He praised the work of the Swedish Police and said: "In all my career I have never had such immediate and positive response from a foreign organisation"
Full inquests will be heard at a later date.
Who were Viola Beach?
The band were officially formed in May last year and performed on the BBC
Four-piece band from Warrington, Cheshire
Kris Leonard - guitar, lead vocal; River Reeves - guitar; Tomas Lowe - bass; Jack Dakin - drums
Officially formed in May 2015
Released debut single Swings & Waterslides last year and put out their second single Boys That Sing on 22 January
Played several BBC Introducing Sessions
Performed at Reading and Leeds Festival in 2015
The accident happened in the early hours in Sodertalje
The car was towed from the canal under the E4 highway bridge
- Published25 February 2016
- Published14 February 2016
