Cleveland Police have named the five people who died in a Volkswagen Passat involved in a fatal crash on the A66 in South Bank, Teesside. The two-vehicle collision killed seven people in total, including two Cleveland Police officers.
Victims named by police
The five people in the Passat were named on Sunday afternoon. They were Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18.
Cleveland Police said: "Cleveland Police can now confirm the names of the five people who sadly died in the Volkswagen Passat involved in the collision on the A66."
The statement added: "Family Liaison Officers are continuing to work with the families all of those who sadly lost their lives in the collision."
Crash circumstances
The Volkswagen Passat was travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway and collided with the police vehicle in which PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were travelling. Their police car was going in the correct direction.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. A suspicious vehicle had earlier been spotted by Cleveland Police officers, triggering a pursuit before the car entered the A66 and collided with the officers' car, the IOPC said. It is understood the police vehicle the officers were travelling in was not part of the pursuit.
Tributes paid
Flowers and balloons have been left at the scene of the crash. Seaton Carew FC paid tribute to PC Blades, known as Matty, who was one of the club's coaches.
The club wrote on Facebook: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that Seaton Carew FC shares the devastating news of the passing of one of our coaches, Matty, who tragically lost his life in a fatal accident while carrying out his duties as a police officer."
The club added: "Matty had only recently joined our club as a coach and was preparing for his first season with our brand-new U7 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."
All club flags are flying at half mast as a sign of respect.
