The two police officers who died in a crash on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, on Saturday (August 22) have been named as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
Chief Constable pays tribute
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller 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," adding that the "tragic incident will be felt across Cleveland".
The collision, involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat, happened shortly after 3.30am on Saturday. Seven people died in the incident.
Investigation underway
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation. The watchdog said it understood Cleveland Police officers had "sighted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began".
Images from the scene showed a large emergency services presence. The North East Ambulance Service confirmed it sent "14 ambulance resources".
