The family of PC Tom Clough, one of two police officers killed when their car was struck by a vehicle travelling the wrong way down the A66, have paid tribute to their 'hero'.
PC Clough, 38, died alongside colleague PC Matthew Blades, 37, when a Volkswagen Passat that had been pursued by police hit the marked armed response vehicle in Teesside early on Saturday (August 22). Three teenagers and two young men travelling in the Volkswagen, which went the wrong way down the dual carriageway in South Bank near Middlesbrough, were also killed.
'Always on public duty'
PC Clough's family said in a statement issued by Cleveland Police on Sunday: “He was our hero with a fantastic of humour. Jumped into action whenever needed, and willing to help anyone for any reason. Proudly fought for his country to make the world a better place. Always on public duty throughout his short life.”
The others who died were named as Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak.
IOPC investigation update
The incident was referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which said on Sunday that PC Blades and PC Clough were not involved in the original pursuit, but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the Passat.
Cleveland Police had received intelligence relating to “numerous incidents” linked to a Passat, the watchdog said in its description of events. The vehicle, containing the five occupants and believed to have been using cloned plates, was spotted. The plates had activated an ANPR camera, the IOPC added.
An armed response vehicle started a pursuit that lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat drove on to the A66 in South Bank against the flow of traffic. Police aborted the chase and continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway. The Passat crashed into PC Blades and PC Clough's vehicle around 10 seconds after the pursuit ceased.
IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell paid his condolences to those affected, adding: “We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences. We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in-car footage of the incident. Work is ongoing to obtain additional material.”
Tributes to officers and victims
Husband and father-of-two PC Blades coached his eldest son in football and was looking forward to teaching his youngest for another squad. He had recently become a Seaton Carew FC coach and was preparing for his first turn teaching its under-sevens Seahawks team.
“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 this season,” the club said on social media. “Matty and his oldest son are much-loved members of our club and our U10 Lions football family.”
Tributes and messages of support for the families of the five young men have poured in on social media, with many of their friends saying they “can’t believe it” and were “heartbroken” and “lost for words”. Balloon releases have been announced in their memory, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at different locations including in South Bank.
