A Good Morning Britain guest appeared visibly emotional as she shared an update on the A66 crash. Officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough died in the early hours of Saturday when a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction struck their car.
The collision, close to Middlesbrough, also killed five young men in the other vehicle. While tributes have been pouring in, an investigation into the crash is ongoing, with several arrests made.
Emotional tribute on Good Morning Britain
During an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, August 27, Cleveland Police Federation Chair Lauren Somerville shared an update, thanking the public for the support received.
She told Ranvir Singh and Adil Ray: "It's really hard to put into words the moment that I heard the news, and then afterwards, and even how it feels now. It's so difficult to describe the feeling of the grief and the weight of the grief and the pain."
She continued: "I have spoken to Tom's family and Matthew's family, both of them at this point. Those conversations will remain private and will remain with me for the rest of my life. We're going to support them in any way we can, in every way we can, for the next days, weeks, months and years."
Public support and ongoing investigation
Somerville went on to thank the public for the support the police have received, saying: "The messages of support that are coming through from the public are so comforting to the families, and I know that they are so comforting to our officers, to know the public believe in us, they see us, they hear us, they're supporting us, and we need those arms around us through all the grief that we're in the middle of right now."
Amid the ongoing investigation into the crash, she added: "There is ongoing crime, there always is, there always will be, and our officers at the moment are still serving the public. They're still turning up every night, running towards danger for the public, which is why the support is so important, to know that the public can finally see what we do and the sacrifice that we make as police officers."
Victims named and tributes paid
The five individuals who lost their lives in the other car were named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Jakub Matusiak, 23, Makai Saddington, 18, and 17-year-olds Theo Rae and Cole Robert Worthy.
In tributes paid to the two officers that died, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "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."
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also paid tribute, she said: "A devastating incident in Teesside this morning in which seven people have died, including two police officers. Cleveland police have my support as they work to identify all those involved. Police officers put their own safety on the line to protect their communities every single day. The two officers were on active duty, serving the people of Cleveland. My thoughts are with all those affected, their families, friends, the emergency services who attended the scene and the wider police family."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
