Seven people, including two police officers, died in a head-on collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough early on Saturday. A car travelling the wrong way, believed to be using cloned plates, crashed into a marked armed response vehicle.
The five occupants of the Volkswagen Passat were named by Cleveland police on Sunday afternoon. They were Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, of Cleveland police, were killed in the collision. They had been driving in the correct direction. Chief constable Victoria Fuller described them as “brave officers protecting our communities”.
Tributes to officers
Seaton Carew FC said Blades had recently joined as coach and was preparing for the season with the new 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. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Matty’s wife, his two boys, and all of his family and friends at this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time.”
Investigation into the crash
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation after a mandatory referral from Cleveland police. The crash happened at 3.39am in South Bank.
On Sunday the IOPC said initial inquiries showed the Passat was pursued by police for just under seven minutes before it turned on to the A66 against the flow of traffic. At that point the pursuit was aborted. “Approximately 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with another police vehicle which was not involved in the pursuit but in the area to assist in a search for the Passat believed to be using cloned plates that had activated an ANPR camera.”
Derrick Campbell, the IOPC director of engagement, said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends and all those affected by yesterday’s collision. We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.”
Community and national reaction
Anna Turley, the Home Office minister and local Redcar MP, said it was “devastating” to think about the grief of the families of everyone who lost their lives on Saturday morning. The whole community was “reeling”, she said.
“All of us in the community here are sending our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives so tragically.”
“I do want to place on record my tribute to PC Blades and PC Clough. The bravery that we see from our police officers every day, every night is incredible. No one should not come home to their families at the end of their shift.” She also said it was important to thank the emergency services who attended the scene during “a really horrific incident”.
Prime minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear two police officers had lost their lives on duty, as well as five members of the public. He said: “My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland police. Thank you to the emergency services responding in incredibly difficult circumstances. I would urge people to avoid speculation at this time.”
Fuller said she and her deputy had on Saturday visited the families of the two officers to offer condolences and support. “This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland,” she said. “This loss is being felt across our communities, by our police family and by our partner agencies. 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.”
Lauren Somerville, the chair of Cleveland police federation, said the grief among officers was “all-consuming, overwhelming”. She said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland police family are feeling.” Cleveland police and crime commissioner Matt Storey described the force as a “really tight-knit family” and said the deaths “will have a big impact on them”.
Family liaison officers were working with the families of the five young men in the car, the force said.
