Car in river; 2 interviews

Title

Car in river; 2 interviews

Transmission details

13 Jan 1982 at 16:40

Description

Police now believe the car which plunged into the ice-covered River Thames near Reading Bridge had pushed in empty. But when the emergency services arrived at the scene minutes after the car sank beneath the ice, it was feared the driver may have been trapped inside. Firemen Ian Black and Tony Lensh were on board the fire engine that rushed to the river bank from the Caversham Road fire station. They peeled off their clothes and jumped into the freezing water. Sub officer Mike Trussell spoke to the moments after had discovered the car was empty, and had been taken to hospital for a check-up. The Thames Valley Police underwater search unit arrived to make a through search of the car and the river bed. Sergeant Maurice Denton went into the ice water. Police had established that the car had been stolen only minutes before it went into the lockk cut a few hundred yards above Caversham Lock. Inspector Tony Keep at the scene said because the car had been stolen, it was difficult to determine whether or not anyone had been in it when it went in. [Box 2]

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Duration

00:03:02

Notes

Band 2 listed on cue sheet is not on tape.

Production company

Radio 210

Extent

1 tape

Credits

Reporter

Phil Coope

Presenter

Phil Coope

Interviewees

Mike Trussell; Tony Keep