A murder investigation has been launched after a child was killed in a house fire in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, less than a mile from a crash that claimed seven lives.
Two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody following the fire at an end-of-terrace property in Birchington Avenue.
Police response and casualties
Cleveland Police said officers were called to the property at 5:23am on Wednesday and confirmed two people had died, including one child. The force said they have yet to be formally identified.
A 48-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle. Three other people suffered injuries believed to be non life-threatening.
Link to A66 crash not ruled out
Seven people were killed in a crash involving a police vehicle in the early hours of Saturday morning close to the scene of the fire. The two-vehicle crash, which also involved a Volkswagen Passat, took place on the A66 in South Bank at about 3:39am on Saturday.
Five men, aged between 16 and 23, were all killed, along with two serving police officers. The force would not rule out a link between the blaze and the crash.
