Twelve people have been arrested following a crash on the A66 which killed seven people, including two police officers. Nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested by officers investigating the events leading up to the crash on Saturday.
The crash occurred when a car, thought to be a Volkswagen Passat, was driven the wrong way along the A road and collided with a police car. The two officers who died were PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough. Five teenagers and young men – Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18 – also died. All seven victims were declared dead at the scene shortly before 4am.
Arrests and suspected offences
Police say the arrests follow several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously. Another vehicle, believed to be a Volvo XC60, was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area, they said. Both vehicles had cloned number plates, which police believe were being used to avoid detection. However, they were picked up by the force’s automated number plate recognition technology.
The Volvo XC60 has now been recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the police’s investigation. Some of the people arrested are suspected of ‘participating in the activities of an organised crime group’, Cleveland Police said. Other suspected offences include possession of a firearm. They added that four of the deceased who had been in the car when it hit the police vehicle had previous police convictions.
Investigation response
Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox, responsible for the strategic leadership of the investigation, said: ‘This has been a fast-moving and complex investigation, with significant links to serious and organised criminal activity.
‘The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect. We have a duty to respond to, and thoroughly investigate, the serious criminal activity that resulted in this fatal incident, and to bring all those responsible to justice.
‘Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organised crime.
‘Officers and staff across Cleveland have shown incredible resilience in continuing their work in the face of tragedy. Two of their colleagues lost their lives while serving the people of Cleveland and, while the impact will be felt by our people for a long time to come, they have continued to act with the upmost professionalism.
‘I am also extremely grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from the public of Cleveland and our wider police family.’
