The two police officers who died in a crash on the A66 have been named as PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38. Seven people in total were killed in the incident near South Bank in the early hours of Saturday.
Collision details confirmed
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 collided with a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle at 3.39am. The police car was on the correct side of the road at the time.
Both officers died at the scene, along with the five occupants of the Passat. Formal identification has taken place for the Passat occupants, and specialist family liaison officers are supporting the bereaved families.
Chief Constable's tribute
Speaking outside the force's headquarters in Middlesbrough, Chief Constable Fuller said: "This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland, the loss has been felt across our communities, by our police family and by our partner agencies."
She added: "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." The Deputy Chief Constable and she visited the officers' families earlier today to offer condolences.
Investigation and response
The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, as is mandatory following any death connected to a police incident. Cleveland Police is fully co-operating with their investigation.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was "devastated" to learn of the incident, thanking the emergency services responding in "incredibly difficult circumstances" and urging people to avoid speculation. Chief Constable Fuller also urged people to respect the privacy of the families while the investigation is ongoing.
