Seven people died in a head-on collision on the A66 in Teesside early Saturday morning after a Volkswagen Passat traveling on the wrong side of the dual carriageway struck a marked police vehicle, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). British police had aborted a pursuit of the Passat just seconds before the fatal crash occurred at South Bank, near Middlesbrough.
The Collision and Investigation on the A66
The crash involved five males aged 17 to 23 traveling in the Volkswagen Passat and two Cleveland Police officers traveling in the correct direction, according to the IOPC. The victims in the Passat were identified as 17-year-olds Cole Robert Worthy and Theo Rae, 18-year-old Makai Saddington, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak. The two police officers killed in the marked armed response vehicle were Constables Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38.
According to the IOPC, Cleveland Police received intelligence regarding “numerous incidents” linked to a Passat believed to be using cloned plates. An automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera activated when the vehicle was spotted. An armed response vehicle initiated a pursuit that lasted just under seven minutes. The chase ended when the Passat drove onto the A66 against the flow of traffic, prompting officers to abort the pursuit and continue traveling on the correct side of the dual carriageway. The collision took place approximately 10 seconds after the chase ceased.
Constables Blades and Clough were not part of the original pursuit but had been called to the area to assist with the search for the vehicle, the IOPC stated. Derrick Campbell, IOPC director of engagement, expressed condolences to those affected and noted that investigators have gathered initial accounts from officers involved, the incident log, and in-car footage.
Tributes to Fallen Officers and Victims
Families and colleagues released statements following the tragedy. The wife of Constable Matthew Blades issued a statement through Cleveland Police honoring him as a “superhero” and “the most devoted father to our two young boys.” She noted that he gave his life in the line of duty while protecting and serving others with courage and selflessness.
The family of Constable Tom Clough described him as a hero with a fantastic sense of humour who jumped into action whenever needed and proudly fought for his country. Tributes and messages of support also emerged on social media for the families of the five young men killed in the Passat, with community balloon releases planned in South Bank.