Two police officers who tragically lost their lives in a serious collision on the A66 in the early hours of Saturday morning have been named. Pc Matthew Blades, aged 37, and Pc Tom Clough, aged 38, were fatally injured when a Volkswagen Passat, travelling in the wrong direction near Middlesbrough, struck their marked patrol vehicle, which was heading in the correct direction.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the collision, which occurred at approximately 3.39am in South Bank. This follows a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
According to the IOPC, officers from Cleveland Police had identified a suspicious vehicle and initiated a pursuit. The car then entered the A66 heading the wrong way and collided with the police vehicle. Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the incident as an “incredibly sad day for Cleveland.”
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She said, “These were brave officers protecting our communities and serving our residents who did not return home to their families at the end of their shift.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed his devastation upon learning of the crash.
The A66 remains closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston. Police are present at both ends of the cordon to manage the closure, with the crash site covered by a large white tent and surrounded by numerous emergency service vehicles. Authorities have also established a drone exclusion zone over the area.
The stretch of the A66 affected lies adjacent to significant industrial sites to the north and near the extensive Teesworks development.
Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, where the incident occurred, paid tribute to the officers, saying: “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 the communities they served.”
Local councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin of the Eston ward described the event as an “unimaginable tragedy” and expressed their deep sadness.
Lauren Somerville, chairwoman of the Cleveland Police Federation, said: “Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family are feeling today. Our colleagues, who should have been returning home to their loved ones after their shifts, are not. That is simply unfathomable.”