FAMILIES SPEAK OUT: The families of the five young men k!lled in the A66 crash say their sons did not simply d!e in an accident…
Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, both 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, and Makai Saddington, 18, all died at the scene.
Five young men who died in a crash which also killed two police officers after a car went the wrong way down a dual carriageway have been named.
Michael Robert Cahill, Jacob Matusiak, both 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, and Makai Saddington, 18, all died at the scene.
PC Matthew Blades, 37, a husband and father-of-two, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were also killed when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough collided with their marked armed response vehicle that was going in the right direction.
The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Saturday morning and sparked a huge emergency response.
Officers had aborted the pursuit of a car believed to be using cloned plates seconds before it crashed into a different police vehicle on the A66 near Middlesbrough, killing seven people, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said [IOPC].
Following an analysis of footage, the police watchdog said in an update that the pursuit lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat travelled onto the A66 “against the flow of traffic”.
It was at this point the pursuit was “aborted by officers and they continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway”, the IOPC said.
The watchdog continued that approximately 10 seconds after the pursuit ended, the Passat collided with another police vehicle which was not involved in the chase, but in the area to assist in a search for the Passat “believed to be using cloned plates that had activated an ANPR camera.”
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said on Sunday that the families of all those who lost their lives are being supported by specialist officers.
In an emotional statement to reporters on Saturday, Chief Constable Victoria Fuller paid tribute to the officers and said she had visited the families of both officers.
She said: “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.”
Mr Saddington is understood to have posted a string of TikTok videos which appear to show him taking part in high-speed police chases months before his death, the Daily Mail reports.
One clip from May recorded by a passenger and set to rap music, the teenager is seen in an Audi being driven at speed through a housing estate in front of police car with flashing blue lights flashing in pursuit.
The IOPC is investigating the lead-up to the crash at 3.39am on Saturday in South Bank, Middlesbrough, after a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police.
It is understood the police vehicle PC Blades and PC Clough were travelling in was not part of the pursuit.
It comes after ring doorbell footage obtained by Sky News appears to show car can be seen speeding down what is thought to be Lime Road at 03:36am on Saturday morning as police vehicles follow behind with blue lights and sirens.
Tributes were paid to PC Blades by the football club, Seaton Carew FC, where he volunteered as a coach.
The club posted: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that Seaton Carew FC shares the devastating news of the passing of one of our coaches, Matty, who tragically lost his life in a fatal accident while carrying out his duties as a police officer.
“Matty had only recently joined our club as a coach and was preparing for his first season with our brand-new U7 Seahawks team. He was looking forward to being part of the team and, most importantly, to coaching his own son, who is going to be playing for the Seahawks this season.
“Matty and his oldest son are much-loved member of our club and our U10 Lions football family.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Matty’s wife, his two boys, and all of his family and friends at this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time.
“We also stand alongside Matty’s colleagues and friends within the police service, who have tragically lost members of their force.
“All club flags are flying at half mast as a sign of respect.“From everyone at Seaton Carew FC, thank you, Matty, for choosing to become part of our club.
Moment police chase vehicle before it crashes into cop car killing seven
“You will always be remembered as one of our own. Rest peacefully, Matty. Forever a part of the Seaton Carew FC family.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which is investigating, said officers had spotted the Passat as a “suspicious vehicle” and began a pursuit.
Chief Constable Fuller added: “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.”
Residents living near the horror scene said they were awoken early in the morning by the loud sound of police cars.
Neil Hutchinson, 47, a resident, told the Mail: “There were police cars tearing down the street at half past three with lights flashing and their sirens going, it woke me up.
“You could tell from the noise that they were travelling at high speed. Two cars went down the street and then a few seconds later there was a third, they were obviously going after another vehicle.
“It’s a narrow street with cars parked on either side so it must have been a serious situation to be going at that speed down this road.
“We woke up this morning to the news that people have been killed. They were travelling in the direction of the A66, so it must have been part of the same incident.”
