Two police officers tragically lost their lives in a collision on the A66 near Middlesbrough early on Saturday morning, an incident that also resulted in the deaths of five other individuals.
The officers who died have been named as Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38. The fatal collision occurred when a Volkswagen Passat, driving the wrong way on the A66, struck their marked patrol vehicle which was travelling in the correct direction.
Following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash, which took place at approximately 3.39am in South Bank.
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According to the IOPC, Cleveland Police officers had identified a suspicious vehicle and had initiated a pursuit prior to the car entering the A66 and colliding with the police vehicle. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the event as an “incredibly sad day for Cleveland.”
“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,” she commented. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his devastation upon hearing the news of the collision.
The A66 remains closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston. Police personnel are stationed at both ends of the cordoned area, with the collision site shielded from view by a large white tent and surrounded by numerous emergency service vehicles. A drone exclusion zone has also been enforced around the site.
The section of the A66 affected is situated near the extensive Teesworks development and is adjacent to substantial industrial premises to the north.
Local MP Anna Turley, representing Redcar where the crash occurred, paid tribute to the officers: “They went to work to keep people safe and they should have come home to their families. Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served.”
Councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin of the Eston ward expressed their sorrow over the “unimaginable tragedy.” Additionally, Cleveland Police Federation chairwoman Lauren Somerville said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today. Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. And that is just unfathomable.”