Flares and balloons have been released at a vigil for one of five people who died in an A66 crash which also left two police officers dead. The gathering took place on a field in South Bank on Monday afternoon for Jakub Matusiak, 23, one of five people travelling in a Volkswagen Passat when it collided with a Cleveland Police car near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday.
Vigil details
Orange balloons were released into the sky during the vigil, accompanied by cheers. People wearing face coverings were also pictured setting off coloured flares, filling the sky with thick orange, red and blue smoke.
The event took place despite opposition from Stop Balloon Releases - North East UK - a campaign group that urged Middlesbrough Council to stop this kind of tribute due to potential threats to wildlife. Speaking before the event, co-founder of the group, Lynne, said this would also be a "kick in the teeth" to the families of PC Blades and PC Clough. The woman, who didn't wish to give her surname, told the Express: "To have as many going off at the same time, it’s not great."
Crash details
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed when the Passat, which was travelling the wrong way along the A66, crashed into their police vehicle. The five people travelling in the Volkswagen – Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Matusiak – were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Passat occupied by the five individuals had been chased by the police, with the pursuit abandoned just seconds before the crash, as the vehicle turned onto the A66 using the wrong carriageway.
Arrests and tributes
Nine men and three women, aged between 18 and 61, have been arrested across Teesside on suspicion of several offences, including participating in an organised crime group, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a firearm without a certificate. Some remain in custody, while others have been released on conditional or unconditional bail. Cleveland Police said, at the current time, there is no evidence to indicate that filming of the activities that took place on Friday night and Saturday morning has taken place for the purposes of TikTok.
Also on Monday, a silent vigil was held at St John the Evangelist Church in South Bank for PC Clough and PC Blades. More than £500,000 has been raised for the families of the two police officers. PC Clough's family described the officer as a "hero with a fantastic sense of humour" who was "willing to help anyone for any reason". Meanwhile, PC Blades' wife said the officer was "the most devoted father" to the couple's two young boys who was "loved beyond words by all his family and friends".
