The two police officers who died in a multi-vehicle crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday have been named as Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38. The officers were travelling in a marked police vehicle in the correct direction when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way collided with them. The crash claimed a total of seven lives, including the two officers.
IOPC launches investigation into fatal collision
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash, which occurred at 3.39am in South Bank. The watchdog received a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police. According to the IOPC, officers from Cleveland Police spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit began before the car entered the A66 and collided with the police car.
The A66 remains closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston. Police officers are manning both ends of the cordon, and the crash site is not visible from the road closures. A large white tent has been erected over the scene, with multiple emergency service vehicles in attendance. Police have also implemented a drone exclusion zone around the collision site.
Tributes from police leadership and MPs
Chief Constable Victoria Fuller described the incident as an “incredibly sad day for Cleveland”. She said: “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.” Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear about the crash.
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the accident happened, paid tribute to the two 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.”
Community and federation respond to tragedy
David Taylor and Stephen Martin, councillors for the Eston ward, said they were “deeply saddened” by the “unimaginable tragedy”. 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.”
The closed section of the A66 is bordered by large industrial units to the north and is close to the major Teesworks site. The IOPC investigation is ongoing, and the road closure is expected to remain in place while enquiries continue.
