WARNING lights at the bridge where Warrington indie band Viola Beach plunged to their deaths at the weekend were faulty according to reports in the national press.
A pair of amber flashing signals 900 metres from the bridge, to alert drivers it was being raised are reported to have been turned off, while two more flashing lights, 200 metres from the bridge were faulty according to an eye witness— with one off and the other apparently emitting a steady beam.
The hire car carrying the four band members and manager Craig Tarry, who is thought to have been driving — is believed to have crashed through two barriers during the early hours of Saturday morning and then hit the edge of the bridge as it was being raised and plunged 80ft into a canal, ripping off the roof of the vehicle.
An oil tanker is believed to have hit the floating vehicle about ten minutes later.
Meanwhile surveillance stills published by a Swedish tabloid website – appear to show the moments shortly before the Nissan Qashqai crashed through two barriers and plunged from an 80ft-high canal bridge. One picture showing a black car taken at 1.57am – emerged on the same morning of claims that the bridge’s warning lights were faulty.
A pair of amber flashing lights 900 metres before the bridge that warn motorists that it is being raised for water traffic – were apparently turned off according to The Sun newspaper following reports from an eye witness.
But the claims of an eyewitness have been refuted by The Swedish Transport Administration Trafikverket who say that daulty lights were replaced a long time ago and logs prove that all warning signs were working.
Investigations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile the grieving families of band members Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin and manager Craig Tarry are seeking some comfort from news that the band’s single, Swings and Waterslides has charted in the National Top 40 at Number 39 and is on course to break into the top 10 this weekend.
Family, friends and fans are urging people to download the track to help achieve the band’s dream of having a number one hit single.
The track can be downloaded by CLICKING HERE
CCTV footage at the crash site
