Sky News halted its afternoon programme for a major breaking news update on the fatal crash near Middlesbrough that killed seven people, including two police officers. The channel reported that nine men and three women have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Arrests Made in Fatal Crash Investigation
The news correspondent Shingi Mararike, reporting live from the scene, said: "We've just had a significant update now from Cleveland Police around the fact that there was another vehicle that was also involved in the incident over the weekend, as well as the other arrests made, so let me walk you through some of that detail."
He added: "Cleveland Police are telling us that they've launched a wide-scale investigation into the criminality which took place prior to the fatal crash. They spoke about how in that incident, there was a first vehicle because they had received several reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously."
Details of the Incident
The first vehicle is believed to be a Volvo X60, which was witnessed ramming properties in the Middlesbrough area. Both vehicles were operating without number plates, including the Volkswagen Passat involved in the accident. They were picked up by the force's automated number plate recognition technology, which triggered the pursuit.
The Volvo X60 has been traced and recovered in Middlesbrough as part of the wider policing investigation. The nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, have been arrested on suspicion of several offences, ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group.
Sequence of Events
The collision occurred minutes after the Passat was captured on a doorbell camera speeding through the streets of Middlesbrough. Police had been pursuing the vehicle after it was described as suspicious, with two police cars following it. Three minutes later, the car ploughed into the other marked armed-response vehicles, killing all seven people in the two cars.
