BBC Breakfast opened with a tragic death announcement as presenters Ben Thompson and Sarah Campbell hosted the show. Seconds into the broadcast, Ben said: "Here are our headlines at 6 o'clock. Tributes to the two police officers who have died in a head-on collision in Teesside yesterday. Five others also lost their lives."
Officers named on air
The report confirmed the names of the officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, as it then cut to Chief Constable Victoria Fuller making a statement on camera. 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."
Community and force in mourning
It then went live to Teesside, as a reporter told viewers that it was a "tragedy for the community and the force," confirming that the police had been given additional stop and search powers until this evening, while support was being given to the families of the two officers killed.
According to reports, the crash happened when a car travelling the wrong way down a dual carriageway ploughed into a force vehicle. A Volkswagen Passat with five occupants, said to be in their late teens, struck an oncoming marked Cleveland Police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
Investigation launched
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "devastated" by the news and thanked emergency services for responding in "incredibly difficult circumstances". The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had opened an investigation, saying: "At this early stage, we understand Cleveland Police sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began."
Comments flooded in from viewers, as one said: "That is terrible. 7 people died!!" Another added: "Horrible news," as a third agreed: "Zero sympathy to the morons in the other car. Respect to the Police."
BBC Breakfast airs weekdays at 6am on BBC1.
