The fatal A66 crash that killed seven people, including two police officers, is said to have occurred moments after a 'feud' was sparked between criminal gangs. The crash came after a property said to belong to the father of one of the victims was allegedly rammed by a car.
Crash details emerge
PC Tom Clough, 38, and PC Matthew Blades, 37, were killed instantly when a Volkswagen Passat smashed into their marked police car head-on on the dual carriageway. The Passat had been pursued by police in the seconds before the force stepped down, as the vehicle started travelling on the wrong side of the road at South Bank at 3.39am on Saturday.
The occupants of that car, mostly teens, were also declared dead at the scene. They were Robert Cahill, 23, Jacob Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, Theo Rae, and Cole Robert Worthy, both 17, The Mirror reports.
Alleged ram-raid and pursuit
The tragedy is said to have taken place just moments after the home of Cole Worthy's father was allegedly ram-raided at 3am, just 40 minutes before the crash. It is believed a car deliberately reversed into the front window of the property twice, causing extensive damage. It is claimed a Volvo XC60 was used which is central to the police investigation. The home is also believed to belong to Gye Worthy, Cole's father.
Minutes later, it is alleged a VW Passat, containing his son Cole and four pals, was racing after the Volvo in a pursuit. When the Passat was spotted by police, it triggered a patrol and ended in tragedy. CCTV caught the car racing between 80 and 100mph down Lime Road in Teesville, pursued by three police cars. At 3.39am, the car then turned the wrong way onto the dual carriageway, where police said they called off the chase. But 10 seconds later, it collided head-on into the police car with PCs Clough and Blades.
There is no implication Gye, a company director, was involved in any criminal activity but the attack on his home appears to have sparked the chase between alleged rival groups.
Arrests and court appearances
Cleveland Police has said two men, aged 18 and 21, and a 16-year-old boy have also been arrested on suspicion of participating in an organised crime group. Another man, 55, was held on suspicion of assisting an offender and a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill. All five remain in custody, the force said.
The force added two of the 12 people previously arrested in connection with the crash have appeared in court, with the further arrests bringing the total held in connection to the investigation to 17. Kai Beattie, 19, of Foxrush Court, Redcar, appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, according to the police. Cameron George, 26, of Micklow Close, Redcar, was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on September 21 charged with drugs offences and possession of criminal property, it said.
Fundraising and reaction
The update of the latest arrests come as a fundraising appeal to support the families of the officers who died in the crash has neared the £1m mark, with more than £900,000 raised across the GoFundMe pages.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Paul Williams, acting deputy national chairman for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "Every day we can identify now numerous examples of young people sensationalising dangerous driving. Not just dangerous driving, but baiting police officers who are out there to protect the public."
Matt Storey, police and crime commissioner for Cleveland, also urged the community to reach out to police officers. "Reach out and put your arm around them," he said. "They are people behind the uniforms." He said in an interview with the Mirror that people filming while behind the wheel was an "incredibly dangerous and idiotic" trend.
Lauren Somerville, chairwoman of Cleveland Police Federation, said: "It's so hard to describe how this grief feels and how it will feel. Policing is so unique, so unique. We are injected into the darkest moments in people's lives, whether that be arresting somebody or you know, saving a life."
