Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two who died yesterday at Culver cliff. This update in from the Police in their own words. Ed
Detectives are renewing an appeal for information after the bodies of two people were recovered from a car that went over a cliff on the Isle of Wight.
Police were called around 8pm yesterday (Wednesday, August 17) after reports a car had gone over cliffs at Culver between Bembridge and Sandown.
Emergency services went to the scene and the bodies of a man and woman were recovered from an upturned Renault Scenic on the beach at the foot of the cliffs.
The couple who died were a man aged in his 50s and a woman aged in her 40s. They both lived on the Isle of Wight.
Immediate next-of-kin from different parts of the UK have been informed.
Police will not be in a position to release more details about the man and woman until all formal identification procedures are completed later this week.
Post-mortem examinations are due to take place later today (Thursday, August 18) to help establish the causes of death.
The beach and the cliff top remain sealed off while a forensic examination of the area for evidence continues. Police are exploring options for the vehicle to be recovered safely from the beach this week.
Isle of Wight Inspector Colin Hall said: “Our investigation is focused on the couple’s behaviour shortly before the car went over the cliff. We must consider every possibility at this early stage but detectives are not looking for anyone else suspected of being responsible for the deaths.
“We’re continuing to appeal for more witnesses who may have seen a couple in a blue Renault Scenic car in or near the top car park at Culver on Wednesday evening (August 17).
“Police would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation and help with our enquiries so far. We’re also grateful to our emergency service colleagues for their expertise at the scene.”
Get in touch
Witnesses or anyone else with information are asked to contact Isle of Wight CID at Newport Police Station by phoning 101 and quoting Operation Brocklesby.
From outside Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, call police on 0845 045 45 45. Mini-Com users can call the police on 01962 875000.
Information can be given anonymously by calling the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
