A devastating crash that claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl and left an 18-year-old driver missing has taken a more sinister turn as Cambridgeshire Police investigate whether the incident was deliberate. New details emerging from the probe into the blue Volkswagen Polo that veered off North Brink and plunged into the River Nene near Wisbech St Mary reveal that the car’s advanced driver alert or safety system was deliberately turned off just 30 seconds before the vehicle entered the water.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at approximately 8:20 p.m. The Polo, believed to be driven by 18-year-old Declan Berry from Wisbech, was carrying five teenagers — two boys and three girls, all aged between 16 and 18. Witnesses described the car leaving the road and entering the river in a dramatic fashion. Emergency services responded quickly, but the fast-flowing and challenging waters of the River Nene complicated rescue efforts from the outset.

Tragically, the body of 16-year-old Eden Bunn from Sutton Bridge was recovered from the river the following day. She has been remembered by those who knew her as a kind, vibrant young girl whose loss has devastated her family and friends. Three other passengers — two girls and one boy — managed to escape the sinking vehicle and were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn with non-life-threatening injuries. They have since provided statements that are helping shape the ongoing investigation.

Declan Berry, who had only recently passed his driving test and was said to be proud of his blue VW Polo, remains missing. Specialist diving teams, search and rescue units, helicopters, and ground teams have conducted extensive operations along the river. On Sunday, March 22, police successfully recovered the Polo from the water with the help of dive teams. No additional people were found inside the vehicle, but the search for Declan continues, with increased police presence along the River Nene due to the difficult conditions.

What has shifted the tone of the investigation is forensic and telematics data recovered from the car. According to police sources, the vehicle’s safety alert system — designed to warn drivers of potential hazards, lane departures, or impending collisions — was manually disabled in a deliberate manner roughly 30 seconds before the Polo left the road and entered the water. This timing has raised serious questions about whether the crash was a tragic accident caused by loss of control, or if something more intentional occurred in those final critical moments.

Investigators are examining multiple possibilities. Some witnesses reported that the car appeared to accelerate rather than brake in the seconds leading up to the plunge, while survivors have described a sudden veer toward the water. One account mentioned a strange silence from the driver as the car went in, with no screams or panicked reactions that might be expected in an accidental skid. Another detail circulating from survivor statements involves a possible movement or object in Declan’s hands moments before impact, though police have not confirmed specifics.

Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit has described the case as truly devastating for everyone involved. The investigation remains at an early stage, but officers are piecing together the timeline minute by minute. They have appealed for anyone who saw the blue VW Polo being driven in the Wisbech area between 7 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. on March 17, or who witnessed the collision itself, to come forward immediately.

Declan was known to his family as a young man with dreams and plans for the future. His brother has paid tribute, saying Declan was set to fulfil his ambitions and had been excited about making improvements to his beloved Polo. The Berry family has visited the scene to lay flowers and is reportedly planning a memorial on the riverbank — a platform with seating where people can sit, reflect, and remember both Declan and Eden.

Eden Bunn’s family and friends have also spoken of her warmth and kindness. The loss of such young lives in a single evening has sent ripples of grief through the local communities of Wisbech and surrounding areas in Cambridgeshire.

The River Nene at North Brink is a notoriously hazardous stretch, especially at night. The road runs close to the water’s edge, and the combination of speed, darkness, and the river’s strong currents can turn even a momentary lapse in concentration into catastrophe. However, the deliberate disabling of the safety system so close to the incident has prompted police to treat the case with heightened scrutiny, exploring all avenues including driver error, mechanical issues, external influence, or the possibility of intentional action.

Forensic experts continue to analyze the recovered vehicle for additional data, including speed, steering inputs, and any other electronic records. The three surviving passengers are assisting police, and their accounts are being cross-referenced with physical evidence and witness statements from the area.

As the search for Declan enters its second week, the emotional toll on the families is immense. Declan’s father has spoken publicly about the desperate need to find his son and lay him to rest. The Berry family continues to hold hope while grappling with the uncertainty. Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for both teenagers, with flowers and messages left at the scene.

Cambridgeshire Police have stressed that they are supporting both families through this incredibly difficult time. The force has also warned of increased police activity along the river as searches persist. The challenging nature of the waterway — with its depth, currents, and murky conditions — means the operation could take considerable time.

This case has highlighted once again the vulnerabilities faced by young drivers and passengers. Only recently having passed his test, Declan was like many teenagers enjoying newfound freedom behind the wheel. Questions about distraction, peer influence, or sudden decisions in a group setting are inevitably part of such investigations, though the deliberate disabling of the alert system adds a layer that investigators cannot ignore.

Anyone with dashcam footage, private CCTV, or any information about the movements of the blue Polo that evening is urged to contact Cambridgeshire Police without delay. Even the smallest detail could prove vital in understanding what happened in those final 30 seconds.

As divers and search teams continue their grim task in the River Nene, the community waits anxiously for answers. The tragedy has united local residents in sorrow, with many reflecting on the fragility of young lives and the importance of road safety. For now, the focus remains on locating Declan Berry and providing support to the grieving families of both Eden and Declan.

The investigation into the precise circumstances — including the intentional deactivation of the vehicle’s warning system — will likely take weeks or months to conclude. In the meantime, the haunting image of a car silently plunging into dark waters, with its safety features deliberately silenced, continues to trouble investigators and the public alike.