It was shortly before 5 p.m. that the police were alerted to the accident. A major rescue operation was launched at the scene.
The emergency services have had divers at the scene who have examined the car that was lying on the bottom.
– We have not found several people in the water and we are now ready at the scene, says Christian Lind, duty officer at the rescue service.
Two critically injured
Two adults and two children were in the car at the time of the accident. All were taken to hospital by ambulance.
According to Region Östergötland, it is about a man and a woman in their 40s and two small children, a boy and a girl.
The man and the boy got out of the car themselves, the police said.
– The woman and the other child had to be picked up by the emergency services, says police spokesperson Mats Pettersson.
The woman and the girl have life-threatening injuries and their condition is assessed as critical. They are both admitted to the intensive care unit.
The man and the boy are slightly injured but must remain in hospital for observation.
A young man was also admitted to hospital in connection with the accident. According to the region, he had minor injuries and could be sent home.
Witness to the event
Payam Namin was fishing by the river with his wife when the accident happened.
– I saw that something happened and that a car drove into the water. Without thinking, I ran and went into the water, he says.
He describes how he helped one of the people up.
– The ambulance was on the scene very quickly.
Raised the car
The police describe the incident as a large and quick operation.
– Initially, there are a number of people who see this accident and who intervene wisely and help, says Mats Pettersson.
At the moment, the police cannot say anything about how the accident happened. During the evening, patrols have, among other things, heard witnesses. The man has also been able to be interviewed by the police.
Shortly after 7 p.m., work was underway to lift the car out of the water.
Photo: Hadeel Ibrahim/SVT