Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller speaking to the media at the Force’s headquarter (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
The two police officers and five members of the public who died in the fatal crash on the A66 near Middlesbrough in the early hours of Saturday have been named.
Pc Matthew Blades, 37, and Pc Tom Clough, 38, were killed when a Volkswagen Passat which was travelling the wrong way down the A66 near Middlesbrough collided with their marked police vehicle that was going in the right direction. Two serving police officers in the marked vehicle and five members of the public travelling in the Passat were pronounced dead at the scene. The A66 is closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane in Eston.
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The police said the members of the public inside the Volkswagen have been formally identified. (Image: Ian Buist/Teesside Live)
Reading a statement outside the force’s headquarters in Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon, she 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.
“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.”
The police further said the members of the public inside the Volkswagen have 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.
A66 crash (Image: Teeside Live)
“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.”
Constable 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.”
