Two police officers were among seven people killed in a crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough on Saturday morning, after a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way collided with their marked armed response vehicle. Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, died in the incident, which also killed five people who were in the Volkswagen. The families of those five victims are being supported by officers and have not yet been named.
Investigation underway
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation and said it understands Cleveland Police “sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began”. The car then travelled onto the A66 and collided with a police car at 3.39am, it added. All occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene.
North East Ambulance Service said 14 ambulance resources were sent to the crash, including emergency ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, its Hazardous Area Response Team and a doctor from Great North Air Ambulance Service. “Sadly despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene,” it said. “We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.”
Tributes and response
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear that two police officers and five members of the public had lost their lives in Cleveland. “My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland Police,” he said on X. “Thank you to the emergency services responding in incredibly difficult circumstances. I would urge people to avoid speculation at this time.”
Ring doorbell footage, apparently taken on Lime Road, Middlesbrough, minutes before the crash, shows a car being driven at speed down a residential road while followed by police cars. One local told The Sun: “The noise woke me and I shot out of bed. You could feel the vibration in the house as the car went past and the police vehicles followed with their lights and sirens going. It was frightening that cars were being driven at that speed through a residential area.”
Police statements
A Section 60 order, which gives officers additional stop and search powers, is in place near the site of the crash until 7.15pm on Sunday. It covers an area around Cargo Fleet Lane east, up to Normanby Road, along Longlands Road and the Trunk Road south to Ormesby Road.
IOPC Director of Investigations Nicola Marfleet said: “This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with family and friends and all those affected, including the emergency services in attendance. Our investigation is in the very early stages, we have sent investigators to the post incident procedures to begin reviewing evidence. When someone dies following police contact, it is mandatory that the matter is referred to the IOPC. Our role is to establish and examine the circumstances of what happened; this work is already underway, and Cleveland Police is cooperating with our enquiries. We will provide a further update when we are in a position to do so.”
Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families of everyone involved in today’s incident. No one should leave their home and not return safely, including police officers serving their communities and protecting the people of Cleveland. This tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland, within our communities and throughout the entire policing family. We are providing specialist support to all families involved at this extremely difficult time. The investigation has been referred to the IOPC, which is the standard approach when a death occurs following police contact. We will cooperate fully with their investigation. While this investigation takes place, we strongly urge people to avoid speculation.”
Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today. Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. And that is just unfathomable. Cleveland Police Federation will be offering full support to our fallen colleagues’ families and they have all of our love and care at this time. When the time is right we will pay full tribute to our brave colleagues. But we can assure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
