NEW DETAILS: What happened before the A66 crash that k!lled seven — a young man allegedly did something deliberately that sent the car veering off course
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is carrying out an investigation into the collision in Teesside – they have provided further information
The scene near the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough following a fatal crash(Image: PA)
New details have emerged regarding a fatal crash that resulted in the deaths of seven people, including two police officers. Investigations are continuing into the two-vehicle collision that took place on the A66 in South Bank, Middlesbrough, in the early hours of Saturday, August 22.
Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, were killed in the crash. And five people, who were in a Volkswagen Passat, also lost their lives.
They have been named as Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and Makai Saddington, 18. Police say family liaison officers are continuing to work with the families of all those who died in the collision.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the collision and it has now verified some of the circumstances in the lead up to the crash. Following a mandatory referral from Cleveland Police, the IOPC declared an independent inquiry on Saturday morning and investigators were sent to the scene to begin reviewing evidence.
The IOPC says: “Our initial enquiries have established Cleveland Police received intelligence regarding numerous incidents that were linked to a Volkswagen Passat. The Passat, which contained five male occupants, was later sighted and an armed response vehicle began a pursuit of the vehicle.
Seven people died including two police officers(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
“Analysis of the police vehicle in car footage shows the pursuit lasted just under seven minutes before the Passat travelled onto the A66 in South Bank, against the flow of traffic, at which point the pursuit was aborted by officers and they continued to travel on the correct side of the carriageway. A short time after the pursuit ended, approximately 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with another police vehicle which was not involved in the pursuit but in the area to assist in a search for the Passat believed to be using cloned plates that had activated an ANPR camera.
“It has been confirmed that following the collision at 3.39am, seven people sadly died. As reported yesterday, they included two Cleveland Police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough. We can also confirm the five occupants in the Passat who died were Michael Cahill, Theo Rae, Cole Worthy, Jacob Matusiak and Makai Saddington.”
IOPC Director of Engagement Derrick Campbell added: “Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends and all those affected by yesterday’s collision. We recognise the devastating impact the incident has had on those in the force, and the wider policing community, and offer our condolences.
“We have obtained initial accounts of officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in car footage of the incident. Work is ongoing to obtain additional material. IOPC investigators will continue to review and analyse all the evidence that is available to us. We will not be providing any further comment at this time.”
Numerous tributes have been paid to those who lost their lives. Flowers and balloons have been left at the scene of the crash.
You can keep up to date with this story in our live blog here.
