Chilling scenes as driver, 17, dies after becoming trapped in a car that plunged into a river – as heroic witnesses rescue female passenger
- A driver, 17, has died after a car after it plunged into a river in northern NSW
- Two people were in the car when it landed in the Richmond River at South Ballina
- Several passersby frantically dived into the water to rescue the pair
- Only the female front-seat passenger managed to escape, and the driver died
- Police said the surviving female passenger was ‘shaken’ but unharmed
A 17-year-old driver has died after a car after it plunged into a river in northern New South Wales.
Two people were in the car when it landed in the Richmond River at South Ballina at about 11.45 on Tuesday morning.
Several passersby frantically dived into the water to rescue the pair, but only the female front-seat passenger managed to escape.
Two people were in the car when it plunged into the Richmond River (pictured) at South Ballina at about 11.45 on Tuesday morning
Unfortunately the teenager behind the wheel wasn’t able to be saved.
The car remains about six metres below the surface.
Police said the surviving female passenger was ‘shaken’ but unharmed.
Local police, the SES, NSW Ambulance, NSW Maritime, Marine Rescue and NSW Surf Life Saving are all at the scene working to retrieve the vehicle.
PolAir and police divers have since been deployed to the location to assist in the operation.