Two police officers among seven killed after car driven wrong way on UK road
Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Seven people, including two police officers, died in a crash near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday, UK police have said.
The police regulator has launched an investigation after the collision, it has been confirmed.
The crash happened on the A66 in South Bank, North Yorkshire, in the early hours of Saturday, when a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way down the A66 dual carriageway collided with a police vehicle, according to local authorities.
Reading a statement outside the force’s headquarters in Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon, Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said: “At 3.39am this morning, a Volkswagen Passat that was travelling the wrong way down the A66 has collided with a marked Cleveland Police armed response vehicle, which was travelling on the correct side of the road.
“Sadly, the collision has resulted in multiple fatalities. The road will remain closed for some time.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the crash, said officers from the Cleveland force had spotted a suspicious vehicle. A pursuit began and the car travelled on to the A66 where it collided with a police car at 3.39am.
The watchdog said investigators had been sent to review evidence, and that they were working with police to establish the circumstances of the collision. The investigation was opened on Saturday after a mandatory referral from the Cleveland force.
North East ambulance service said it had been called to a two-vehicle crash and sent 14 units to the scene including ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a hazardous area response team and a doctor from Great North air ambulance service.
A spokesperson said: “Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene.
“We send condolences to all of those affected by such a tragic event and thank everyone for all they did to help.”
The two police officers killed in this morning’s crash have been named as Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough, Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller has said.
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough died in the crash on the A66.
She said: “Tragically, two police officers, Pc Matthew Blades and Pc Tom Clough, died at the scene, along with the five occupants of the Passat, as a result of the collision.”
Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller said she and the deputy chief constable visited the families of the two officers killed in the A66 crash.
She told reporters: “This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland. The loss has been felt across our communities, by our police family and by our partner agencies.
“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.
“My thoughts and thoughts of everybody here at Cleveland Police are with their family, friends, colleagues and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
“Early today the Deputy Chief Constable and I visited Matthew and Tom’s families to offer our condolences, support one another and begin to come to terms with this unimaginable loss.”
Constable Fuller confirmed that the members of the public inside the Volkswagen have also been formally identified.
She said: “Formal identification has now taken place for the occupants of the Volkswagen Passat and specialist family liaison officers are being deployed to support the bereaved families, we also have support in place for our officers and staff who have been affected by today’s tragic events.
“As is mandatory following any death connected to a police incident, we have referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and are fully co-operating with their investigation.
“Whilst this investigation is ongoing, and out of respect for all those who have lost loved ones, I would strongly urge people to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the families.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was “devastated” to hear that two police officers and five members of the public had been killed in a crash between a police car and a Volkswagen going the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough.
He posted on X: “Devastated to hear that two police officers have lost their lives while on duty in Cleveland this morning, as well as five members of the public.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved, and with everyone at Cleveland Police.
“Thank you to the emergency services responding in incredibly difficult circumstances. I would urge people to avoid speculation at this time.”
Anna Turley, MP for the Redcar constituency where the crash happened, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the fatal collision on the A66 this morning.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and with everyone affected by this terrible incident.
“Thank you to all of our emergency services, who have worked through the night responding to this devastating incident.
“We would ask everyone to avoid speculating online to respect the families and the police while they do their work at this terrible time.”
Police said that the incident was “quickly evolving”. The A66 remains closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston.
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