PC Matthew Blades, 37, has been pictured for the first time after he was killed in the horror A66 crash. The dad-of-two died in the early hours of Saturday when a car travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway crashed head-on into his police vehicle.
Pictures shared on social media show the husband smiling at Manchester United football matches and after completing a half marathon. He had recently become a coach for a local amateur football team and had been preparing for his first season teaching its under-sevens side, which his own son plays for.
Tributes from Seaton Carew FC
Seaton Carew FC said on social media: "He was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks [under-sevens] this season. Matty and his oldest son are much-loved members of our club and our U10 Lions football family."
PC Blades and his colleague PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed in the line of duty after a Volkswagen Passat crashed into their marked Cleveland Police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough. The five young men travelling in the Passat were also killed. They have been named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Cole Robert Worthy, 17.
Pursuit details
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said officers had earlier been pursuing the Passat following reports of what it says was numerous incidents linked to the vehicle. Footage from a police vehicle showed the pursuit lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat entered the wrong side of the A66 and officers abandoned the chase. Around 10 seconds later, at about 3.39am, it collided with the police vehicle carrying PC Blades and PC Clough, who were in the area helping search for the car.
It was revealed that Saddington had posted a string of TikTok videos appearing to show him taking part in high-speed police chases months before his death. It is understood he and his companions had close links to the traveller community.
Official tributes
PC Blades and PC Clough have since been hailed for their bravery after being killed while on duty. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller looked close to tears as she told how she and her deputy David Felton had visited the officers' families to offer condolences and support "with this unimaginable loss". She said: "These were brave officers, protecting our communities and serving our residents, who didn't return home to their families at the end of their shift."
She added: "This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland. The loss has been felt across our communities, by our police family, and by our partner agencies. My thoughts, and the thoughts of everybody here at Cleveland Police, are with their families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time."
Cleveland police and crime commissioner Matt Storey described the force as a tight-knit family and said the incident would "have a big impact on them". Lauren Somerville, chairman of the Cleveland Police Federation, said: "Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family is feeling today. Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. That is just unfathomable."
Andy Burnham expressed his sadness following the tragedy. The Prime Minister said: "Devastated to hear that two police officers have lost their lives while on duty in Cleveland this morning, as well as five members of the public. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland Police. Thank you to the emergency services responding in incredibly difficult circumstances."
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also paid tribute. She said: "A devastating incident in Teesside this morning in which seven people have died, including two police officers. Cleveland police have my support as they work to identify all those involved. Police officers put their own safety on the line to protect their communities every single day. The two officers were on active duty, serving the people of Cleveland. My thoughts are with all those affected, their families, friends, the emergency services who attended the scene and the wider police family."
