Multiple people have died after a crash involving a police vehicle on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of Saturday. The three-vehicle collision, which included a Volkswagen Passat, took place at about 3.39am.
Emergency response and road closure
The A66 is closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston. Cleveland Police said there is a significant emergency response at the scene and the road “will remain closed for some time”. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes.
The North East Ambulance Service said it sent 14 units to the scene, including ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a hazardous area response team and a doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Police statement and condolences
A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: “Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene. We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.”
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: “Around 3.39am this morning, a collision took place involving a police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank. Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. There are significant emergency vehicles on the scene and the road will remain closed for some time. The public are asked to use alternative routes. We are working to identify the victims and contact their families. This is a quickly-evolving incident and we ask that members of the public respectfully avoid speculation.”
