Hundreds of mourners lined the streets for the funeral of an A66 crash victim today as five schools closed early in Middlesbrough so pupils could safely make their way home.
The funeral cortege for Jakub Matusiak, 23, was followed by a long line of mourners dressed in black and orange. Jakub was one of five killed in a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 when it collided with a marked police car on August 22.
Service at St John the Evangelist Church
The funeral took place at the St John the Evangelist Church on Normanby Road, South Bank near Middlesbrough, less than a mile from where the tragedy happened. Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died at the scene.
There were large crowds at the church, but no motorbikes and quad bikes as had been expected. Instead, there was near total silence as the horse drawn carriage drew up to the church carrying Jakub's coffin, the word 'son' etched onto the side. There was a white floral tribute which spelled out the word 'friend'.
The cortege was followed by a number of vehicles, including several hearses carrying mourners, while many young people crowded outside waiting for the start of the service.
Schools close early and police plan for disruption
Redcar and Cleveland Council confirmed five schools were closing early so that pupils could go home, missing the afternoon's lessons. A spokesperson said the decision followed careful consideration of the potential impact on parents collecting children.
Mr Matusiak, Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and Michael Cahill, 23, were all pronounced dead at the tragedy.
Supt John Wrintmore from Cleveland Police said there was potential for traffic disruption. "This will affect areas of South Bank, Normanby Road through Teesville, Ormesby and Marton, and Acklam Road," he said. "We are working closely with the local authority's highways departments, who are leading the traffic management for this event, to minimise disruption."
"As with any significant gathering, we have plans in place to ensure public safety and security, which is in line with our usual process."
Political reaction and ongoing investigation
The decision comes after a vigil, for one of the young men who died, last week was followed by disorder in Haswell, County Durham, where a number of cars were set on fire. The incident prompted criticism from MPs and the police.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott said children should not be kept out of classrooms and called on Education Secretary Lucy Powell to "ensure that this does not impact the honest and decent pupils, parents and teachers".
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader Alec Brown said it is "awful" that children's education is being disrupted. He stated that any dangerous riding, reckless driving, or antisocial behaviour is "not acceptable".
The Volkswagen Passat involved in the collision was being pursued by police until 10 seconds before the crash, according to the police watchdog. The Independent Office for Police Conduct said the Passat was believed to be using cloned registration plates.
Lucy Powell, the Education Secretary, said today that schools had made a 'difficult decision' based on safety advice. "As Education Secretary, I want schools to be open all the time," she said. "These schools had a very difficult decision to make for the sake of their pupils.
"We have had significant surge policing to try and calm the situation. I don't think this is a matter for party political point scoring. I will always put the safety and well being of children at the forefront of anything I do."
MP Andy McDonald, who represents Middlesbrough and Thornaby, said that he trusted the professional judgement of the schools involved. He stuck by his view that some of his constituents were victims of terrorism, adding: "It is disruptive and mightily regrettable to close these schools.
"But we have to support the professional judgements of the schools involved. I have been consistent in my pleas to successive Governments about the reduction in the number of full-time police officers in Cleveland.
"If your nan is not going to the shops because she is terrified, then you have to recognise that is terrorism."
The total number of people arrested as part of the investigation is 24, Cleveland Police said today.
