- It's a terrible message.

Our thoughts go primarily to the affected families, says Håkan Edvardsson, chairman of Vetlanda BK.

Just before 4 pm on Thursday, the alarm came about the traffic accident on highway 31, about 500 meters north of Lindshammar, Uppvidinge municipality.

According to the rescue service, it was a frontal collision with two cars where a total of five people were involved.

The same evening, the news came that two boys, 16 and 17 years old, had died in the crash.

Both have previously played bandy in Vetlanda BK, and on Friday morning the police announced that the driver, an 18-year-old player in the bandy club, did not survive the accident either.

- We received the first message last night.

Then we received the news of the third death this Friday morning, says Håkan Edvardsson.

"Everyone is very involved"

He says that the incident has hit the association hard.

- All players and leaders are very affected by what has happened.

On Friday, Vetlanda BK will try to be available to everyone in the association who is in need of support.

- We have been in contact with the municipality's crisis group Posom and decided that together we will have a gathering from 3 pm in the Mission Church in Vetlanda.

Then everyone can come there who feels that they need support in this, says Edvardsson.

Both the bandy club's junior team and the A-team have canceled planned matches this weekend, and on its website the association writes that the office will be open on Saturday for those who wish to gather.

Deaths AIK supporters

According to information, the teenage boys were football supporters, on their way to Kalmar to see their team AIK play.

AIK comments on the tragic accident on its Twitter account:

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased in this difficult time."

Late in the evening, the police announced that they were investigating the incident as gross negligence in traffic, grossly causing another person's death and grossly causing bodily injury.

According to the police, however, there are no criminal suspects.

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Three boys died after a frontal collision on highway 31 north of Lindshammar.

Photo: Carl Carlert

- We will investigate the accident and what caused it, says Rickard Lundqvist, spokesman for the police.