Floral tributes and balloons have been left at the scene of a crash on the A66 in South Bank, Teesside, where seven people died on Saturday morning. Two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were among the fatalities after a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the dual carriageway collided with their marked armed response vehicle.
Community tributes at the scene
A number of bouquets have been left at the scene, and balloons with written messages were attached to a road sign. One message read: “Shine bright up there my little mate,” while another said: “I love you.” South Bank ward councillors Neil Bendelow and Sue Jeffrey also left a tribute that read: “With deepest sympathy.”
The families of the five people who were travelling in the Volkswagen are being supported by officers, Cleveland Police said on Saturday, although they have not yet been named.
Reactions from local leaders
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the collision happened, said on Sunday morning the “whole community is reeling here today”. She told Sky News: “I want to particularly put on record my tribute to our incredibly brave police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, because we know our police officers every day, every night put themselves into action to protect our communities, to keep them safe.
“And I want to acknowledge their bravery, but I also want to recognise that we’ve lost seven lives tragically and the whole community is obviously in shock and devastation.” She added that Cleveland Police is a “close-knit” force and a “police family”.
Official statements and investigation
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said in a statement on Facebook: “A horrible and tragic incident in South Bank this morning and my thoughts are with those affected, their families and the emergency services who attended the scene. Our police officers are heroes who put everything on the line to protect us, and I know all of Teesside will want to pay tribute to the officers and other emergency service workers involved for the bravery they have shown in responding to this incident.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear that two police officers and five members of the public had been killed. On Saturday, he posted on X: “Devastated to hear that two police officers have lost their lives while on duty in Cleveland this morning, as well as five members of the public. 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.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash, which took place at 3.39am, after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. Officers from the force spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the car travelled onto the A66 and collided with a police car, the watchdog said. It is understood the police vehicle PC Blades and PC Clough were travelling in was not part of the pursuit. The A66 is closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston.
