Seven people, including two police officers and five young males, died early Saturday on the A66 in Teesside, northeast England, when a wrong-way Volkswagen Passat collided with a marked police armed response vehicle, according to Cleveland Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Police Watchdog Confirms Pursuit Was Aborted Before Fatal A66 Crash
The IOPC stated that officers had aborted a pursuit of the Volkswagen seconds before the collision occurred. According to the watchdog, Cleveland Police received intelligence regarding numerous incidents linked to a Passat believed to be using cloned plates. An automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera triggered a response, and an armed response vehicle initiated a pursuit that lasted just under seven minutes.
The Passat then drove onto the A66 in South Bank against the flow of traffic. Officers abandoned the chase and continued traveling on the correct side of the carriageway. Approximately 10 seconds after the pursuit ceased, the Passat crashed into a second police vehicle driving in the correct direction, according to the IOPC.
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According to former Metropolitan Police officer Graham Wettone, armed response officers in smaller UK forces like Cleveland typically have significant policing backgrounds, meaning the impact of such a loss is profoundly felt across a tight-knit department.
Victims Named as Community Reels From Teesside Tragedy
The two Cleveland Police officers killed in the marked response vehicle were Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, as reported by both outlets.
Neither Pc Blades nor Pc Clough was involved in the original pursuit, according to the IOPC. Instead, they had been called to the area to assist with the search for the suspect vehicle.
Tributes Pour In For Fallen Officers and Young Men
Local and national leaders offered condolences following the incident. Anna Turley, a UK Home Office minister and local MP for Redcar, told BBC Breakfast that the community was reeling. “All of us in the community here are sending our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives so tragically,” Turley said, while also paying tribute to the bravery of Pc Blades and Pc Clough.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller visited the families of the two officers alongside her deputy to offer condolences. “These were brave officers, protecting our communities and serving our residents, who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift,” Fuller said in a statement.
Seaton Carew FC shared a devastating tribute to Pc Blades, who had recently joined the football club as a coach. The club stated that he was preparing to coach his own son in a new under-sevens Seahawks team. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Matty’s wife, his two boys, and all of his family and friends at this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time,” the club said, adding that all flags were flying at half-mast.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also expressed devastation over the loss of life, urging the public to avoid speculation while emergency services and the watchdog investigate. Tributes for the five young men have circulated widely on social media, with friends planning memorial balloon releases across South Bank throughout the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the fatal crash on the A66?
The crash occurred when a Volkswagen Passat traveling the wrong way down the dual carriageway collided head-on with a marked police armed response vehicle, according to Cleveland Police and the IOPC.
Were police chasing the vehicle at the moment of impact?
No. According to the IOPC, officers had aborted the pursuit roughly 10 seconds before the Passat crashed into the police vehicle.
Who is investigating the incident?
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the lead-up to the collision following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
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