Sightseers find teenager's body in Waikato River

Searchers last night recovered the body of the third teenage girl who died after a car plunged off a Hamilton bridge into the Waikato River early on Saturday morning.

Senior Sergeant Pete Simpson of Hamilton told NZPA today the body of 16-year-old Hayley Forbes was found in the river about 10pm, downstream from where the car plunged off Cobham Bridge.

Searchers were alerted after Hayley's body was seen floating in the river by passengers on a river cruise boat.

The bodies of Hayley's niece Kristen Kara Armstrong, 14, and their friend Sandra Hinemerurangi Victoria Tungia, 16, were found by divers on Saturday.

The 21-year-old male driver of the car survived the crash, as did a 19-year-old male passenger. Police are considering laying charges over the crash.

The three young women had been students at Melville High School in Hamilton.

- NZPA