Two Cleveland Police officers killed when a car travelling the wrong way along the A66 crashed into their vehicle have been hailed as heroes by their families. PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, died when a Volkswagen Passat collided with their marked armed response vehicle near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday.
Family tributes to devoted fathers
PC Blades' wife described her husband as "loved beyond words", a "beloved husband" and a devoted father to their two young sons. She said he had given his life in the line of duty while protecting and serving others "with courage, dedication and selflessness".
"No words will ever feel like the right words to honour our Matt," she said. She added that his sons would grow up knowing what an "incredible" father he was, describing the pain of losing him as "beyond words". "Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our superhero. Our Matt and Dad," she said.
PC Clough's family also paid tribute to him, describing him as their "hero" and saying he was always willing to help anyone. They said he had a "fantastic sense of humour" and "jumped into action whenever needed". The family also said PC Clough had "proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place" and had been "always on public duty throughout his short life".
Football club tributes and fundraising
Tributes have also been paid to PC Blades by the football clubs where he worked as a coach. Seaton Carew FC, where he had recently become a coach and was preparing for his first season with its under-seven Seahawks team, described him and his family as "much loved members" of the club.
FC Hartlepool, where PC Blades had coached an under-10s team, called him a "role model, mentor [and] friend" who the children "looked up to and admired". The club said his kindness, patience and infectious personality made him loved by everyone who knew him.
More than £100,000 has been raised for the officers' families through an online fundraiser organised by the Cleveland Police Federation. The federation said the two officers had "paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty" and that the money would be given to their families to use as they wish.
Community mourning and investigation
On Sunday, police officers gathered at the cordon on Eston Road to lay floral tributes to their colleagues. Some removed their hats and bowed their heads during a brief moment of silence. Officers also hugged one another as they left the scene.
The tragedy has deeply affected the wider Cleveland community. Local residents Elisia and Vincent Haarhoff visited the scene to show their support for the police and the families of those killed. "No family deserves that," Elisia said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The watchdog said Cleveland Police had received reports linking the Volkswagen Passat to "numerous incidents" and that the vehicle was believed to be using cloned registration plates which had activated an automatic number plate recognition camera.
An armed response vehicle began pursuing the Passat and the pursuit lasted almost seven minutes. The Passat then travelled onto the A66 on the wrong side of the dual carriageway. Officers aborted the pursuit and continued on the correct side of the road. Around 10 seconds later, at approximately 3.39am, the Passat collided with the police vehicle carrying PC Clough and PC Blades.
The IOPC said the officers' vehicle had not been part of the pursuit and was in the area assisting in the search for the Passat. Security footage from a house on Lime Road in Middlesbrough appears to show a car being pursued by police vehicles around three minutes before the fatal collision.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the incident as an "incredibly sad day for Cleveland". "No-one should leave their home and not return safely," she said. Fuller said she and her deputy chief constable had visited the officers' families to offer condolences and support as the force began to come to terms with the loss.
Tributes have also been paid by political leaders, including the Prime Minister and Home Secretary. The section of the A66 in South Bank between Eston Road and Normanby Road is expected to remain closed until Monday while repairs are carried out to the carriageway.
